Dinghy development: Carbon fibre + water. Long term effects?

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Carbon fibre + water. Long term effects?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10874
Printed Date: 16 Jul 25 at 9:18pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Carbon fibre + water. Long term effects?

Posted By: roadrunner
Subject: Carbon fibre + water. Long term effects?
Date Posted: 13 May 13 at 2:23pm

We all try and store our boats dry but i wonder how much care do we need to take with carbon fibre?

V difficult to get all the water out of tanks and worse in the winter when the boat sits wet for months.

Does the carbon take on weight? weaken?

Anyone run tests or are there material specifications from industry?

Replies:

Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 13 May 13 at 2:32pm

The carbon fibre itself has no issues with water, but the resin may. If it is a good epoxy with a good quality laminate ( correct amount of reisn and not full of air) you will not have any problems. If it is a poor lay up with low cost polyester you may have problems of water uptake and degradation. This is however rare nowadays so you will probably be fine-just try to keep the tanks dry and well ventilated when not being sailed.

Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 13 May 13 at 3:48pm

What he said. Both carbon and glass fibre it depends upon the resin, but roughly speaking epoxy (especially, oddly, cheaper epoxy!) is as good as entirely waterproof.

However, foam cores may not be, and wood cores, pads etc are still quite common in epoxy boats these can, if the inside of the boat is not well looked after, take on water and rot- there's a guy on the B14 forum at the moment detailing the work he's doing thanks to this on a older boat. This is what you've got to be careful of, as whilst it may be load bearing it'll be invisible until failure!

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Al