Like already said, just changing to carbon fiber won't lose weight.

I haven't made a strip built kayak, but I just assume that actually fiberglass would not be needed for just paddling. It's needed to make protection against rocks and such. I'm building a C&G kayak from foam. The foam's lightness can not be utilized because the thin fiberglass (which would be otherwise enough) will not protect against rocks or other hits.

To make the kayak lighter you could swap fiberglass to polyester (diolen) or aramids (kevlar) which have better protection against impacts. It wouldn't help much though - you should change wood to something lighter to get the most effect. You can also ecide touse the kayak only in safe waters and then you could make it very light.

Toni.

: Hi- I thought I posted this message yesterday, but apparently it didn't make
: it to the forum. Sorry for that, and if it somehow did and I'm repeating
: myself.

: I'm far enough into my current project to start thinking about non-wood
: materials. Like everyone, I want to maximize strength-to-weight and I'd
: like to use some carbon cloth in places for the weight savings, and that
: leads me to my first question. Carbon cloth is rated just like glass,
: isn't it? So if I use 5.7oz. carbon it will still weigh 5.7oz/sq yard?
: That means I'll only see a negligible weight reduction over 6 oz glass,
: but what is the increase in strength?

: Second issue is- on a day boat is the 25-30% strength increase in S-glass
: sufficient so that those of you who use this stuff on a regular basis
: (This is my first non-SOF kayak) would think it's o.k. to go with 4-oz
: S-glass instead of 6-oz E-glass?

: Assuming that what I've read that glass is stronger in tension than
: compression, I'm thinking of using a full layer of 4-oz S-glass on the
: exterior with a second layer in the hull's "damage" areas, with
: a layer of 4-oz. S-glass on the interior, and the cockpit area reinforced
: with carbon fiber cloth.

: I'm sure that I'm not being innovative and someone's had the same idea, so if
: you can let me know how it worked I'd appreciate it. I'm only going to
: build this boat once, so I'd rather spend a few extra bucks to do it
: right.

: thanks-

: m