Plastic boat Question

[Bob Perkins]

A friend of mine is looking at a sail boat (not wood) and out of a run of 16 hulls - the one he is looking at was made from glass/epoxy (foam core). All of the other hulls are glass/vinylester (foam core).

So the question is: How much heavier or lighter is the cured vinylester over epoxy?

Just wondering...

Thanks.

[paladin]

may be about the same BUT if all things are taken into account by the builder the epoxy boat should be lighter because the resin is stronger and harder than the vinylester and may be equal strength in a thinner laminate....

[George Roberts]

"How much heavier or lighter is the cured vinylester over epoxy?"

For all practical purposes both are the same weight and the same strength.

[Popeye]

For all practical purposes both are the same weight and the same strength

you tell 'em george.

when you have a material, anything, and n=1000, with a huge margin, n+1 matters not.

[Mike Vogdes]

All the hoopla over osmosis and blisters and such with fiberglass boats has sorta created a new industry of "blister repair". I'm sure you have seen or heard of people peeling their fiberglass hulls back a few laminations and letting the hull dry out befor reglassing and finally giving the hull a few coats of vinylester befor bottom painting.
Lately the builders of glass boat have taken a new aproach and are now adding the vinylester at the factory to curb their problems blisters. If this boat your refering to is infact "glass/epoxy" over a cored hull it would stand to reason that it would be lighter than a polyester/glass cored hull coated with vinylester.

[Bob Perkins]

Thanks for the info - I'm not sure how to look it all up.

The though is - this particular hull number was requested to be built in epoxy by the original owner.

So.... If the epoxy hull is lighter - than the boat should be *technically* faster than the PHRF rating.

That is why the curious interest in overall weight. It is a 33' racer/cruiser.. But mostly racer smile.gif

Thanks,
BOb

[Noah]

What kind of boat?

Hmm... PHRF, Fast, Light... I say Soverell 33.

They are fast as hell in just about every condition, can actually plane down wind, and are fun to sail. You do need some rail meat though...

Let me know if I'm wrong so I can try again...

[Concordia..41]

Hum - 33' one of 16 hulls...SR33???

I'll show my PHRF ignorance here - we're years away so I haven't begun to worry about it, but don't you have to disclose anything that impacts the boat's performance, but isn't obvious via standard measurements, sail area, etc.???

[Bob Perkins]

I'm pretty sure there are only 16 hulls. But, it has water ballast too.. So 2-3 people can put on pretty good sails!

Actually - I think it is a 30'. The 33' model is identical, but has an addition at the transom area to lengthen the water line. Another guess?

As for PHRF rules - I don't know them either. I'm railmeat on a Aerodyne 38 on Wednesdays in Marblehead. And fortunate enough to sail with a bunch of rock stars. So I just watch and hope I can learn a thing or two smile.gif

[Noah]

Bob, you lost me...I don't know what it could be. I don't think that the Melges 30's had water ballast.

How do you like that Aerodyne 38? A friend has one on order and it's 7 months late...We were going to race on it all summer. It looks like it's getting here for next season though... :confused:

What ever this boat it I would like a ride on it some time. Sounds fun. We have a great time on the Melges 24 that I generally race, but it's fun to get on big fast boats too. I also sail on a J-105 quite a bit but it isn't quite as much of a rush. Though it does have a pretty big chute to play with.

Noah

[Bob Perkins]

Hey Noah,

The boat I was describing is a Quest 33 (Roger Martin Design) Sorta a mini Aerodyne 38. Not a lot of them made afaik.

Now I'm suprised the Aerodyne 38 was so back logged.. But Maybe they are selling like hotcakes.

The 38 is a rocket, pointing machine and a sports car.. It takes tiny movements on the wheel to get it to turn. Like I said, I'm mostly rail meat.. But I get to play with the pro's and the crew is fun. No yelling or debates. smile.gif

[Noah]

Nice looking boat...for a go fast machine.

I've never sailed a boat with water ballast, but I would like. I'll take the carbon rig too...

I'm not really sure why the Aerodyne has taken so long. I know that they requested a couple of options, and were willing to wait to bring the price down.

Happy sailing,

Noah