[Paddlewise] Plastic vs. wood ribs and bits.

As the following has the potential for starting a religious war,
let it be know that I worship regularly at both houses (albeit
with more enthusiasm in one than the other).  I own a Klepper
Aerius Exp. II and a "California" Aerius I, and I own a
Feathercraft K1 with a polyester deck and a K1 with the urethane
deck.  Now a a question about materials and design between these
boats.

Why did Feathercraft choose plastic for ribs and nose pieces etc.
(and polycarbonate at that, rather than the stronger glass filled
polyester that Folbot now uses) instead of using wood?.  Why not
use the high grade plywood Klepper employs?  It appears to be
substantially lighter and stronger than the polycarbonate.

Second question: design.  Klepper ribs arch *away* from the deck
material and are *in contact* with the hypalon hull.  Thus there
is little or no contact between rib and deck material, and water
that gets into the boat sloshes between ribs but does not rapidly
flow from bow to stern.  Feathercraft K2s do exactly the
opposite.  For years they used a urethane coated deck material
subject to abrasion wear, yet they designed their ribs to fully
contact the deck material above, while their lower edges have
large channels, keeping the rib from touching the hypalon hull
except at the center and sides, and allowing water to flow fore
and aft freely and quickly.  This also arches the lower part of
the rib upward so the seating position must be kept high to avoid
painful rib-on calf bruises.

Anyone know why these design choices were made?  Anyone know were
I can obtain half a sheet of that Klepper plywood to make my own
ribs to replace the calf-gouger Feathercraft ones?

Thanks,

RGM
-- 
Richard G. Mitchell, Jr.
(541) 752-1323 phone/fax
mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu
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