International 14 Mailing List
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From: Gregory J. Mitchell (grmitche@cisco.com)
Date: Thu 29 Jul 1999 - 20:22:30 BST
Using basic methods available to any home builder - Ernie Bertram has built a very strong hull and boat - and carries at least 20 pounds of lead. His boat would be lighter but the design is on the large side of the ICE boats, high freeboard, big foredeck, wings. He freely used extra carbon. Too much he'll admit. If he were to build a smaller form factor boat, and be more frugal with the carbon and foam - he's thinking he can save another 5-7 pounds.
Construction is male mold foam, carbon skins, some vacuum bagging. With the new low temp pre-pregs - the home builder can build an even lighter boat. The Aussies have been building 145lb boats at home for years.
This is not to say it's easy. It isn't. It requires careful engineering and planning, with a big dose of attention to detail, keeping all your laminates at the best effort resin/fiber mix. Using small, light and well placed backing plates, etc. But it is possible.
The amount of lead the new boats, home and pro built have to carry would be comical if it didn't have such a negative effect on performance.
I like your uffa fox comment in your signature.
Greg
<p><p>>Many a 14 are build or rebuild at home. I think this is good for the class
>and I'd hate to see the weight drop to a point where it is a significant
>advantage to have a professional builder use prepreg materials in a
>$100.000 mold to build yet 30 pounds under weight and add the lead to the
>middle.
>
>Dropping the min weight will increase cost, fragility and keep the home
>builder in the back row. Is that really worth dropping 20 pounds?
>
>R!
>
>-- ,--+___.
> ,/ | \
> ___ / | \. Rainer Leuschke
> __ / | \. phone: (w) 206-685-0900 ,
> __ / 14 |\ \ (h) 206-524-7887 |\ __
> | ~~ | \ USA \ | \ __
> | | \ 1111 \ | o\ -
> | | \ \ Weight is only of use |~U'\
> | | \ | in steamrollers. |/(-'
> +--o o--| \ | - Uffa Fox `------;-
> .|_[]{ }_|------+======'
> M|_______________|
> U H
> U
>
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