Ny kölkonstruktion på segelbåtar
This Master Thesis is a product development project that has been carried out in cooperation withSvea Teknik AB. The company has developed an apparatus for attachment of a keel to a hull base ofa boat. The purpose for this thesis has been to compare a new concept of keel attachment incomposite material to thetraditionaldesign solution. This new keel attachment minimizes thedamages that may arise on the keel and the hull of the boat in shape of stresses impacts at grounding.Today it is a problem, relating to keel attachment on sailing boats having a fin keel or a bulbous keel.The manufacture focus on developing larger draught and shorter keel blades. The overall purpose isto increase performance of the sailing boat.The task for this thesis was to develop a concept of keel blade in composite material and investigateattachment to a sheet-shaped element. The new design solution has been to compare a sailing boatcalled Albin express. The comparison has a focus on price, performance, manufacturing andmaintenance work.During the thesis work three main concepts have been developed in composite material. Thefinal concept is based on integration of keel withsheet-shaped element. The main reason for thisconcept solution is theadvantage in manufacturing.An Albin express with this new concept will be at least 15 % lighter than the old design. Withthis new design the force impact on keel attachment will be reduced by a factor of 6 if youcompare to the old design. One of the main drawbacks with the new concept is the cost ofmanufacturing. The new design costs twice as much as the old design.The conclusion of this work is that it is possible to reduce the total weight of a sailing boat if thedraught increases with the new concept. This feasibility study shows advantages to develop anattachment of keel to the hull in composite material.