Re: [Paddlewise] Slamming

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert C. Cline <rcline_at_onramp.net>
To: John Winters <735769_at_ican.net>; paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
<paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: March 13, 1999 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Slamming


>I avoided the purchase of a Kevlar boat basically because of the danger of
>cracks in the gelcoat.  In fact, I passed up "the deal of the century."
>So, this doesn't really matter except for cosmetic reasons?

Star cracks can appear in Fiberglass, Kevlar, Spectra layups. Gel coat has
little strength but must be applied fairly thickly to assure that the gel
will not lift, alligator, or fail to cover the substrate. If gel coat had
the properties of, say, polyurrethane paints, no star cracking would occur.
It cracks because of a lack of fiber support within the film
>
>Is Kevlar "stronger" than fiberglass or is it just lighter?

Both.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/



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