HK wrote:
Gene Kearns wrote:
On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:35:20 -0500, HK penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:32:38 -0800, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Omigawd. Kevlar and carbon fiber composites! (Watch the video- see the
bagged hull). Better run over there quick, Harry, and let them know
they don't have the first clue about how to build a boat.
Obviously a solid, hand rolled, FRP hull would be vastly superior to
anything Hinckley is putting out.....right?
I'll admit it right up front - I had my doubts about vacuum bagging
with foam core up and until I saw the process being done.

I'm convinced now that it's a pretty good method given the proper
materials in the manufacturing process. In my opinion, which matters
little I realize, it's a better method than the Ranger hand laid
glass, foam fill method.

Stratos has been using the technique for a while using Kevlar/Carbon
composite weave and those boats are tough.

I have no objection to modern materials in the hull, but I'd not buy
any boat with foam in between the hull skins.

Nor would I....and the numbers quoted in support of these infusion
technologies, when compared to a more traditional cored construction,
is a meaningless comparison.

The process yields a sound structural assembly, but a lot of the hype
is to promote licen$ing of the SCRIMP portions of the process.

Note that the subject boat is injected with vinyl ester resin..... not
epoxy.... and makes no mention of the type of fibers or warp schedule
used.

Similarly, the hype from the NSWC is meaningless because it gives no
meaningful comparative measures. The NSWC's numbers may have looked
really good because they were paying the bill for development.

A boat that weighs as much as a cork will float, but you better hang
on to your teeth and your kidneys.....



One of the most appealing aspects of my little 21' Parker is that the
bare hull weighs about 2900 pounds. Lighter deep vee boats of the same
length and width "bounce" a hell of a lot more.

What is the hull of your 36' Zimmerman like Lobsta' boat made of.