[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPQEyaf5Mg&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_stronger_r2-2r-1-HM”]YouTube - Formula Powerboats Advanced Composites–The Formula Difference![/ame]
sweet video - thanks for sharing!
wish they focused more on the hull itself - wondering if they are using a core during construction and what it is.
If your looking for good core materials check out Nidacore and Coosa panels. They are used allot in the marine world. Get your free sample box from Nida http://nida-core.com/english/brochure.htm and check out Coosa here http://www.coosacomposites.com/ The Coosa is good for mounting locations, it gives a nice and solid panel to bolt or screw into. The boat manufactures I know that use these materials infuse their hulls and offer a lifetime warranty.
Be careful with Nida in hulls.
Although the material is really easy to use (bends in both directions so a small number of large sheets is doable on boats, instead of a large number of small sheets, or scrimmed material) it has a fairly low shear modulus, making for less stiff panels. Which is why it is so resilient. Although on the heavy side, compared to stiffness.
If the Nida fails, the cells rupture, and as these are polypropylene, they cannot be bonded anymore, making for “interesting” repairs.
also if your skins are thin, water might wick its way into the cells, never to come out.
pros:
-price
-easy of use
-high impact strenght due to low shear modulus
cons:
-difficult repairs
-on the heavy side for a desired stiffness
-water can be a problem
I have used this stuff on some racing sailboats, and I wished I did not…
i’m pretty firm on using divinycell on my hull project - but i do appreciate the links/information to alternatives!
reason being is there is one guy in the industry who is making the lightest and strongest hulls, and i know that is what he is using.
however, what he will not release is where and how thick (which i understand as he is in the business to make money… i am doing it for a personal project).