Hi guys, This is my area a bit, (composites, not nanotubes) and I do not agree entirely with Peter. The problem is not the strength of the material, the problem is if you design for strength or for stiffness Using the same techniques (and supposing the matrix-fibre interface is strong enough) you could make the kayak lighter only by using a thinner layer of the stronger material. On a macroscopic scale the kayak then is just as strong, but the thinner skin is much more flexible than the old (thicker and heavier) skin. So you end up with a boat that is much more flexible. Also on a macroscopic scale the kayak is less stiff, and because of the flexible skins probably rather prone to buckling. Of course you can add stiffeners to the skin, but they add weight again. My view is that for building a much lighter kayak you should leave the technology in which the skin is load bearing. It exists: look at the first light folding kayak. (www.firstlightkayaks.com). They are building a carbon fibre frame and using a light but abrasion resistant PU skin, and end up with a kayak that weighs 22 pound at 4.8 m length. No expedition boat, but it should be pretty tough if you see the surf pictures at treir site. The ultimate light kayak would be a non folding skin on frame boat using a nanotube based frame and some extremely light space age skin. The other question is why you would want one. Easier handling is nice, but on the water a pound less on your tummy is much more effective, and a lot cheaper, than a pound less on your boat..... Greetings, Merijn *********************************** Merijn Wijnen merijnwijnen_at_fastmail.fm *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jan 16 2003 - 11:58:30 PST
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