Chloe started her year long build cycle in April 2018. She is being built in two, 6 month long, phases. First, her metal fabrication and welding is completed at the Garcia facility in Conde Sur Noireu. Of these first 6 months, the first 3 are working on Chloe inverted while sitting on her framing jig. Following this, Chloe is Flipped and so that during the second three months her top sides and decks are welded up.
After her welding phase she is shipped on a big truck to Cherbourg, on the Coast of Normandy; where she'll spend her second six months in Cherbourg, being fitted, equipped and rigged.
This page, Part #1, shows Chloe's welding phase before her road trip...
April 2018
Here is Chloe lying flat on her pack. At this point, she's a very 2D looking stack of CNC cut pieces. Each piece is a precision, computer cut jig-saw puzzle component... soon to be welded into 3D. Each piece is fabricated from specific grades of Aluminum, chosen to optimize strength versus weldability versus durability in a marine environment. Different types of Aluminum are the result of different process techniques and impurities.
Above, you can see Chloe's massively strong Centerboard - milled from 2" aluminum.
These thick, precision cuts are performed with a water jet cutter - an impressive tool that uses very high pressure, ultra-thin, 'beams' of water to cut though metal - a bit like a CO2 laser might. Very clean, cuts result.
Several of Chloes components are welded up as separate, stand-alone components; before being integrated into her frame.
Here, below, you can see her solid, over-engineered engine mount. It's starting to become very apparent why Garcia Aluminum yachts sit in an entirely different class to that of production plastic boats....
Chloe is next formed up and tacked together, piece by piece, onto a precision jig. The jig is the key to make sure she's straight and precise.
She's tack welded at first - to make sure every component is aligned exactly in the right spot. After everything looks perfect - she's welded up along all her joins and seams.
Once Chloe's Frame elements are in the perfect position and her spars welded into place - her hull sheathing and plating starts.
Gaps are left along the inside of the hull so that any bilge water, as a result of condensation, can run freely down to the the bilge, ready for pumping out. We don't want any puddles caught inside the boat.
Unlike older boat designs, each piece of a Garcia hull is curved with a clever aluminum sheet shaping technique. This results in a smooth, curved hull - instead of the hard chines of older aluminum boat designs.
With her smooth rounded hull shape, she looks better and will sail better.
June 2018: We can get inside Chloe
Looking from inside her, partially clad upturned hull, we start to get a feel for the size of Chloe's inside living space. Looking Good!
August 2018: Chloe's Hull is Flipped
After Chloe's hull sheathing has been welded and the seams all closed up solid: She's Flipped - right side up! (Hopefully for the rest of her life!! )
Now welding work can start on her top decks.
Chloe is really starting to take shape now. She's looking like a ship!!
Every welded seam is checked and ground down to be perfectly smooth.
Notice there are no problematic deck to hull seams to be seen here. Instead, solid, welded Aluminum decks means she won't be plagued with those little hull-to-deck seam leaks that aging, plastic boats suffer from.
The Garcia Exploration's Bowsprit - with two heavy duty bow-rollers is a thing of beauty. An incredibly solid piece of engineering. Those Flimsy Little Fiberglass boats had better watch out!!
After each piece of hull sheathing is welded, it is ground fair and smooth. This is rare combination of : Art, Craftsmanship and Engineering - hand in glove.
Chloe's aft swim platform is a great design. Practical and very solid. There are has several integrated storage units too. Propane, Emergency Life Raft, shore tie curlers are all stored on the aft swim platform.
October 26th, 2018 - Chloe's Welding is finished
Chloe's ready to leave her welding facility. She's looking pretty shiny and ready for her first 145 Km trip. Her First Road trip, to Cherbourg.
And off she goes to Cherbourg....
Now's it's only 5 months to go before Chloe's Launch day...
