CRW-Con Composite Reinforced Wood Construction
About the Dix500
Introducing the Dix500, a unique limited-edition catamaran born of the DH550 and Dix470. Well known boat designer Dudley Dix has over the years successfully developed, tried and tested the radius chine plywood construction method, with great success. The Dix500 takes this method of construction to the next level in a professional build of 6 vessels only.
Composite Reinforced Wood Construction, draws on years of testing the combinations of sandwich core and cold mold. The goal is to develop a lighter yet stronger boat. This is achieved using “appropriate technology” at every level; from integral bulkheads of foam core with plywood and fiberglass skins bonded under vacuum and to interior cabinetry crafted from foam core panels. Individually crafted at our facility on the Albemarle Sound, this could be the boat of your dreams.
See the big brother boat at http://www.dixdesign.com/55cat.
Photo at left is Friends Forever a DH550 launched in 2016, sailing "the fairest Cape of them all" Vasco Dagama 1488
It all started with Wild Vanilla a 55' performance cruising catamaran, a unique design collaboration Dudley Dix and Phil Harvey, which Phil built in Trinidad
Wild Vanilla has been sold three times in the 15 years that she has been afloat, providing years of safe cruising to each of her owners
GA interior
CONSTRUCTION
Vacuum pressed bulkheads start a strong accurate build
Internal paneling is vacuum pressed to ensure a light but strong product
A good vacuum system enables many special forms
Stringers set in bulkheads
The initial set up process ensures an accurate hulk
Radius ply section being formed.
Inner-skins fitted
Inner core finished for insulation and sound deadening
Fitting of outer skins
Fairing the keel position
Cruising keel fitted and glassed in place under vacuum
Final Glass done
Final fairing with AWLFair
Longboard work to achieve a fair hull
Bottom coat applied before roll
Port Hull Rolled !
First view of interior
Main cross member formed in Mahogany
Joining bulkheads under construction
Helm station made up in components
Front end formed on jig
Front end faired
Sugar scoop primed
The hulls finally mated
Aft view of main bulkheads forming the multihull
Work In Progress
The well placed helm; vital, functional and beautiful sets the tone for the interior of this boat
The steering wheel is well engineered using industry standard parts. The shaft is 1" diameter with 1"-13 thread. The wheel brake system is designed to use readily available Edson replacement parts
The pulleys for the steering system are manufactured in house to accommodate the Samson Amsteel Blue 5/16" ropes used for the steering system. Turnbuckles on the tiller arm allow fine turning to ensure the rudders constantly work in parallel.
The rudder system design deserves special mention; the shaft a thick-walled 4" 102mm 316 stainless steel tube rotates in Vesconite bearings housed in a fiberglass tube. The spade rudders are well balanced and the trailing edge is specially chisel shaped at 30 degrees to avoid chatter at higher speeds
The fuel fill and vent are connected to a Vetus no spill system. Also visible in this photo is the air inlet which supplies forced air to the bilge entering at the 3rd compartment of the hull and exciting aft through the engine compartment. This is connected to a timer which can be set for daily blow throughs at convenient times