[Paddlewise] Boat Construction

I'm way behind in reading PW, so forgive me if these points have been made.

Michael Daly wrote:  (re: hvy vs lite construction & what is strong enough)
    big snip
>Vacuum bagged construction to maximize fiber to resin ratio.
    snip

So they vb to maximize fiber to resin ratio.  I sometimes wonder if they
aren't vb'ing to maximize the weeny to all paddlers ratio.  The engrs may
come up with the great new ideas, but isn't it usually the financial types
that decide how to impliment them?

>Construction workers don't buy the same tools that
>weekend woodworkers do either, so I think your observations are valid in
>the appropriate context.
    snip

I am a construction worker and the lesson learned about tools is that
products designed for professionals are designed to do the job and products
designed for non-profs are designed to do some bare minimum of the job that
still allows the product to be marketable.  The lesson is clearly relevant
beyond a narrow context, and I always buy commercial grade in everything, in
less it is prohibitively expensive.  I would most certainly do so in a
vessel which I am hoping to save my life in extreme conditions.

Michael had some good comments (as always) about where the strengthing of
the kayak should occur and I'm sure I'll read more along this line, but I
couldn't avoid harping on the above issues... no offense intended.

Mike

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