: I use carbon fiber because it is stiffer than fiberglass. I've used
: it on my recessed coaming, foot brace,

: 1/8 inch plywood with carbon fiber on both sides doesn't flex
: nearly as much as it would with fiberglass.

: In the cockpit area it resists flexing caused by the weight (us)
: supported in a small area. Farther along the hull away from the
: cockpit the weight and buoyancy are more spread out so it's not
: needed. If it's used under the deck around the coaming, then it
: would be to stiffen the coaming area. It would also stiffen the
: whole 'tube' of the hull/deck even only on one side.
: I'd try to keep from using it on the hull because it's very dark.
: In the sun it also heats up, but I've never had an yeeouch! from
: my carbon fiber coaming.

: It's also used for hardware bits, rudders.

I've used it too, but it's not in any way required. Yes it's stiff, but fiberglass is too, just takes more material to get the same stiffness. Still done hand layup it may not be any lighter, difficult to tell when carbon is wet unlike fiberglass. Done vacuum bagged though and you can end up with a very light very stiff laminate, still it's better combined with another fabric like glass or Kevlar, used alone carbon is awfully brittle and has a tricky failure mode, has complete or nearly complete strength right to the point where it fails, most other composite materials gradually weaken and show that they are under stress before they fail, so the load can be reduced or the laminate strengthened to prevent failure.

Bill H.