opinions re: epoxy vs. plastic hulls, lead vs. iron keels - Page 4

sailingdog · #31 08-11-2008

Gramp-

I think your analysis is a bit flawed. The mechanical properties of a laminate have a lot to do with how well the resin sticks to the reinforcing fibers. I'd imagine that epoxy's stronger adhesive bonding properties would apply to both the fiberglass fibers as well as any core material.

blt2ski · #32 08-11-2008

Argle,

Not sure of the base price of a 37, the 32 is 142K and 35 is 177K from a yr ago, assuming a 30-40K increase for the 37 as there is in between the 32 an 35, or about 210K base for the 37. About a 5% increase for the epoxy vs FG. Along with about a 6-7% reduction in wt.........I probably would go for it.

Not sure of cost for the iron/lead keel option vs the std deep draft iron, but might consider that one too, if some overall wt can be dropped from below too. That would help on our lazy less than 10knot summer days.

I do not see a Carbon mast or equal composite option so alum sounds std and the only option there.

Who are you dealing with? Usually we saw Richard here at the Seattle shows.

Good luck on choice if you go that way,

Marty

ArgleBargle · #33 08-12-2008

37 base price was 178 earlier this year (not including commisioning, taxes or much else). we're just looking and thinking still, but i am enjoying the epoxy-glass and lead keel discussion and find it quite educational. thanks for all of the various responses.

i had thought a lot about it and one thing (possible epoxy disadvantage) i thought might come up, but hasnt yet, is puncture resistance. if the tensile strength is so much greater, to realize the weight savings, presumably the laminate is thinner (i dont know this as a fact, however), especially if cored. i think about this when avoiding the sometimes impressive number of logs we see around here. perhaps this isnt the case with a marginal increase in strength like switching to epoxy, but i imagine taken to the extreme (say, carbon fiber/epoxy composite) built to the same stiffness as a GRP hull, it would be rather fragile.

blt2ski yes, we have met with richard in vancouver, but as it turns out he moved to the tartan/C&C/bavaria dealer - we found out by surprise as we were looking at a tartan 3700 CCR this past weekend (which along with the hanse brings up the discussion of the merits and deficiencies of self tacking headsails, but i think that was another thread). btw, sorry we weren't at bedwell in june, we were actually at roche harbor that weekend - nice little place! we're stopping at Sucia Is on our honeymoon later this month, perhaps you might know if Shallow Bay is too shallow for a 5 and a half foot draft? the books say 1 to 1 1/2 fa, so i figured coming in on a flood tide would be reasonable (??)

blt2ski · #34 08-12-2008

I have yet to make it to Sucia, Fartherst north on that side I have been is Clark island. Nor did I make it to Bedwell. Either you or I would have been oldest and smallest boats. Most were mid 90's and later SO models.

As far as the bay getting into it, if 6-9' is the least, you should be ok if you stay in the deeper area's.

Not sure I would worry about the debris in the water puncturing a hole in the hull. If you had a power boat going 20+ knots..........that might be a different story. What is the difference in price on the iron vs iron/lead deep keel? and is there any difference in overall ballast or disp?

We stopped at Roche on the way back from bedwell last yr, 1st time for me being there, nice little spot, would like to have stayed longer than the hr or so we were there, but spouse needed to be home that night, so off we went south!

I also wondered if Richard had left Freedom yachts, as there website shows a need for a broker, and richard was not one of the folks listed anymore! Not that we would/would not see him in Sept or Feb shows then, unless he is showing a Bavaria, as I am sure the local T/C&C dealer would make sure they are kept out of Seattle's show, probably more of a franchise type reason than anything.

Congrats on the upcoming marriage/honeymoon, hope all goes well.
We may be up there the first part of sept. I've been working on Crane over the last month or so.

Marty