: Wanted to post a rather newbie question. Am starting on my second
: build, tackling Nick's Mystery. Would like to keep it light,
: strong, and affordable. Any suggestions on good sources of glass
: and carbon fiber?

: Thank ahead of time.

: Ts

For your glass and carbon fiber go to www.raka.com They are great guys, huge selection. I highly recommend the 3.25 ounce cloth. Use two layers bottom, one everywhere else for a nice light yet fairly strong layup. Two layers on the deck if you want a stronger deck. This stuff is very tight weave, very strong, and extremely smooth when you wet it out- uses less resin, comes out much lighter. I have used it on racing boats with just one layer.

Something to note regarding Carbon Fiber- where people screw up with CF is they use the same weight cloth that they would use with regular glass. The cloth absorbs the same amount of resin, and then you end up with the same weight as fiberglass. If you use CF, then you need to go 2/3 to 1/2 the weight you would have used with glass. The weight of cloth is the weight per square yard. If you get the same weight glass it will come out as heavy or even heavier if it is a thicker weave. Where you save weight is in the amount of resin absorbed by the glass. With Carbon Fiber because it is stronger than FG you can use a thinner (lighter weight) cloth, and therefore less resin, and THAT is where the weight savings is.

Brad at www.woodsurfboardsupply.com just got some Paulownia in if you want to go really light, but he only has about 8 to 10 foot lengths so you will have to do some scarfs. It is half or less the weight of cedar by volume.