Re: [Paddlewise] Boat Construction

Doug Lloyd wrote:
> 
> No, it was a Current Designs Solstic, almost new. The boat was completely
> replaced, "No questions asked". ...

> BTW, Necky boats have an excellent reputation on our rough BC coast. ...

That they do. They must have some skilled craftsmen doing the hand
layups. 

Regarding the larger issue, I have always been of the opinion that the
heavy weight of British boats is due in part to additional materials
that add strength and due in part to excess resin, which mainly just
adds weight.  In short, they are very strong, but are unnecessarily
heavy. Using "modern" methods, it is possible to produce a boat of
comparable strength but of lighter weight. At the risk of stating the
obvious, this does not imply that all lighter boats are of comparable
strength. (I don't think that we disagree on any of the above.)

I do believe, however, that some people baby their lightweight boats far
more than is necessary. A good one is remarkably difficult to break. I
have run my 42-pound kevlar boat into reefs, surfed it onto rocks,
dropped it fully loaded onto a rock (I had some help with that!), and
used it for numerous seal launchings. I almost always land by running it
up onto the beach, sometimes over rocks. Other than a few places where
chunks of gel coat have broken out from hard impacts (easily repaired)
and lots of gel coat abrasion (also easily repaired) I have had no
serious problems. (Knock on wood.) BTW, it has arches of core material
glassed into the deck to add stiffness. The result is a reasonably stiff
deck without excess resin. Nonetheless, if one is insecure or is an
*extreme* boat abuser (for example surfing with rocks for ballast), then
it is always possible to order a vacuum-bagged boat with additional
layers of material, providing "peace of mind" without unnecessary
weight.

Happy paddling!

Dan Hagen
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