Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
By:Bris Paul
Date: 6/18/2010, 2:39 am

I have already built 5 S&G Yaks, all of which I glassed the hull and decks with standard 4 oz glass.

I've now got into racing and am considering building a strip ICF racer of my own design with the help of The Kayak Foundry.

I'm thinking of useing 1/8 Paulowina for the strips (and even possibly some balsa ,to keep the weight to minimum ) and glass inside and out of both deck and hull with either ,ONE LAYER of carbon fiber ,or alternativley ONE LAYER of 4 oz galss.

(I have used carbon covered balsa for rudders with great success in the past.)

I may vacum bag if practical.

The object is to get the benifits of a cored hull, of light weight , that will only be used in still water racing ,therefor standard durability need not come into the equasion.

Can anyone who is familar with cored hulls ,tell me what are the strength differences and any pluses and minuses, of using the one layer method of carbon fiber instead of 4 oz glass.

Dont worry about commenting on the cost differences as I have aquired enough carbon fiber already ,very very cheaply.

Thanks Bris Paul

Messages In This Thread

Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Bris Paul -- 6/18/2010, 2:39 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Bill Hamm -- 6/19/2010, 2:54 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Craig Robinson -- 6/21/2010, 1:20 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Sam McFadden -- 6/18/2010, 10:23 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Mike Bielski -- 6/18/2010, 8:33 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
eric -- 6/18/2010, 8:05 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Allan -- 6/18/2010, 3:11 am
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Bris Paul -- 6/18/2010, 5:10 pm
Re: Strip: Carbon Fiber versus Glass
Allan -- 6/18/2010, 6:43 pm