Construction  Lamination  Interior  Rigging

Interior Integrity

Once we've completed the basic laminates of our hull, we begin to install the interior structure. Mirage uses full-length longitudinal stringers with transverse frames to provide a structural grid pattern in the bottom of the hull. This grid not only enhances hull rigidity, but also provides the framing to support floors, mount engines, and very importantly, to provide the perimeter shape for our highly touted integral fuel tanks.

Most trawlers use aluminum or steel fuel tanks that have an undeniable history of failure. Some metal tanks may last up to twenty years, but many fail after only a few years in service, necessitating repairs that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Mirage builds only vinylester/fiberglass structural and integral tanks. Fuel, water and holding tanks are all built this way, and will last a lifetime.

In addition to unparalleled longevity, our fuel tanks do double duty as an element of the structural grid work to further reinforce the hull. The fuel tanks are heavily baffled to stop fuel from sloshing and their fiberglass construction greatly reduces water contamination from condensation. And finally, there is no way to nest tanks any lower in a vessel then by making them integral. This lowers the center of gravity in our trawlers,  which increases stability and makes for a more comfortable ride. 

After the basic hull is complete, we begin building the superstructure. These components are constructed very differently from the hull. Between the encompassing layers of fiberglass is a thick, lightweight core that is impervious to rot. The material is called Nida Core and is essentially a series of encapsulated honeycomb structures. This material is the best sound-deadening core available and it also provides thermal insulation.

The entire deck and pilothouse of Great Harbours are constructed with cored materials, adding a huge amount of buoyancy to the vessel. This additional buoyancy overcomes the weight of the hull and machinery, which adds up to a huge plus - unsinkability! Most other fiberglass trawlers use plywood in the core of their decks because it is less expensive. The problem is that even treated plywood will eventually rot. Ask any repair yard what happens to plywood cores over time, and then ask our competitors what they use. 

Another one of the outstanding differences in construction between us and our competitors is the amount of fiberglassing reinforcement used to attach not only decks to hulls but also bulkheads to the decks and hulls. On many trawlers, structural bulkheads are in no way attached to the decks or even the hulls. This practice is completely unacceptable in a vessel that your life may some day depend on. All bulkheads on Great Harbour trawlers are fully bonded to hulls and decks with a special knitted biaxial fiberglass designed specifically for that purpose. 

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