Vaughan <vaughan_at_jps.net> wrote: >> The Eddyline hulls are a separate issue. They are lighter. I've read their information on repairs and it seems punctures can be fixed. They claim the manufacture of them is more friendly to the environment. Wear from dragging the hull over sand and rocks for five years is not addressed. I'm not sure the environmental argument holds up if I have to buy three Carbonlite boats and only one gelcoat boat over the same number of years.The jury is still out on Carbonlite. >> Well put. I believe your remarks are directed at the boats made solely of Carbonlite. I have "issues" with their "Modulus" boats, which have composite FRP structure overlaid with Carbonlite. The drawback to use of the exterior, "sacrificial" material (Carbonlite) as part of the structural integrity of the boat is that as the Carbonlite wears, so also does some of the strength of the hull. I suspect this might be a small problem, because most of the wear will be at the keel near the bow and the stern, and not in the center of the boat. However, in a traditional FRP boat, it is easy to replace lost gel coat with more of the same. Can the Carbonlite be similarly renewed? I doubt it. Anybody know? I'm an Eddyline fan, and own two of their older composite designs. But, I wonder if abandoning composite construction in favor of polycarbonate or composite/polycarbonate is a good thing. Sure, it sells more boats, and at a lower unit cost/boat. But who buys a Carbonlite boat? Someone who will wear the boat out? Or, someone who will paddle it for three seasons and then let it sit in the garage? I think "marketing" may have clouded Derrer's judgment. Or, maybe it was too many years sniffing styrene fumes (grin)! [Actually, avoiding wet layups and vacuum bagging of FRP in favor of heat-formed structures does have human health advantages for workers -- I'll give Eddyline that.] -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Jun 07 2003 - 07:36:31 PDT
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