: I'm a big fan, recently, of polyester fabric in a composite layup, works
: well, actually mimics (sort of) Kevlar for a heck of alot less money and
: aggrevation. I'm not a great fan of Dynel because it sucks up gross
: quantitites of resin and results in a very heavy layup.

: Btw, the primary reasons production builders shy away from epoxy other than
: the cost issue is that it takes so darned long to set up and slows the
: building process to the point they're not making any money. Also there are
: bonding issues with most gelcoats, most require and intermediate step(s)
: between the gelcoat and the resin which also slows production. Waiting
: even 4 or 5 hours for a heat set epoxy is wildly different than waiting 15
: minutes for vinylester to cure.

: Bill H.

I've definitely gone back and forth on the Dynel exterior layer. My logic has been that if I am making a strong layup that is constantly seeing abrasion from rocks, then my outside layer will be taking a lot of scraps. Once the outter layer has been scraped through, its structural integrity is severly impacted. The strength of the laminate is in the monocoque structure, and when that is in question it is definitely a weakness.

So if strength is a considerably higher priority than weight, would it be worth having a 3-4 lbs layer of armour on the boat? So far my answer has been yes. I may regret it... I definately might. I know it is used on sailboat hulls that anticipate beach landings. And it is also used on the tips of most paddle blades (such as my carbon fiber one). I've seen the Dynel on my friends' Backland paddles hold up to some sever abuse...

But if its time to add the Dynel and my boat is already pushing 40+ lbs, i may refrain. I've thought of the 6oz E-Glass layer outside of the S-Glass in place of the Dynel... Its been a difficult debate.

Good info regarding production boat building, for sure. I can see how those cure cycles could hurt production schedules a great deal~