Am I correct in thinking that a fiberglass boat is more durable and easier to repair than a carbon boat? What is the advantage of a vacuum constructed fiberglass boat over a non-bagged boat?
Submitted by catdailey on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 2:41am
Am I correct in thinking that a fiberglass boat is more durable and easier to repair than a carbon boat? What is the advantage of a vacuum constructed fiberglass boat over a non-bagged boat?
Submitted by catdailey on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 2:41am
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Remember the OCLV Trek bike frames , OCLV is initials for optimum compaction , low , void.
This is what vaccuum bagging does for a composite layup ; it helps to compact the layup and also to squeeze out excess resin , resulting in a lighter, tougher, composite structure.
Glass layups are more durable in the sense that they will survive impacts better but glass is heavier and more flexible than carbon. A flexible boat is a slow boat . This is why builders commonly use carbon for stiffness and maybe some kevlar for toughness and durability .
As far as repairability goes ,carbon is just as easy to repair as glass.
#1 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 5:17am
That's true, Fuze, but like Tiger said in a recent post, the heavier, more flexible fibreglass boat is less prone to catastrophic failure.
#2 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 6:08am
Thanks Fuzey! I always check out the Huki bargain page as they are the only boats I've ever paddled and it's a bit confusing when you look at the listed weights.
It looks like the vacuumed fiberglass is almost as light as the carbon/kevlar at a much lower pricepoint. I wonder if at 130 lbs or so I would even notice the difference in stiffness, esp since I paddle almost exclusively on flatwater?
The kevlar/glass boats seem heavier, but more expensive than plain fiberglass.
The non vacuumed fiberglass are the cheapest and seem to weigh almost as much as the kevlar/glass.
#3 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 6:10am
Without experience you would probably not notice the difference.
I paddled Huki's boats during the World Sprints, very nice boats.
It makes a difference what core material you use. Fully saturated core mat is heavier than surface saturated core material. Many variables, see Tiger's post.
The fiberglass layer itself is not heavier than the carbon layer. With carbon you may need one layer less.
Fiberglass does not get dings just by looking at it, unlike pure carbon.
Many boats use a combination.
I think if they had a light-weight 'wing' framework inside the boats for support, they could build a very light fiber boat that does not bend or twist much.
#4 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 7:29am
They're excellent flatwater boats,cat, and seviceable in the bumps as well. They're very well made, and constructed here in the U.S.A.
#5 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 6:46am
Kanu The Rock
I paddle OC (fiberglass) and Huki (kevlar) canoes and have hit many rocks out here, almost unavoidable, no worse for wear other than ugly battle scars. Often you miraculously "float" over the rocks with horrible scraping sounds that make you think you're toast and sunk but you're OK. My biggest concern is hanging up the rudder on rocks. I have bent rudder shafts on rocks, just bend 'm back and your good to go. I've had the canoes been blown off my rig onto blacktop, still OK. These are relatively tough draft.
#6 Wed, 01/14/2009 - 1:32pm
Our club oc2's are HuKi and they have stood up well over the last couple of years. Especially bumping off the dock, or running up on the beach....
Local repair to glass has been relatively cheap and quick. Not sure if all boat repair places deal with more exotic materials like carbon......
I know two rules you can bet a dollar on though,
1. Nothing is indestructible
2. Things fail at inopportune times
#7 Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:37am