Why Apache are so expensive?
10-29-2007, 08:25 PM
#301
Registered
couldnt find the web site I wanted to I f I remember correctly carbon fiber is like 10 times stronger than fiber glass ... 7 times stronger than kevlar. Weight 2.5 times lighter than Kevlar. 5.5 times lighter than fiber glass. Might have the figures mixed up a bit. check this out though http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1320/
10-29-2007, 08:29 PM
#302
Registered
They were saying that about Kevlar too- that it might be stronger but didn't yield progtressively. it was said to be either OK or shattered. Alot of that came from raceboat incidents where major failures occurred. Most likely it was excessively light layups that were the culprit.
In theory, carbon fiber is much stronger than any of the other fibers. The trick is the overall process- resins, resin ratios, cures, etc. All the aerospace stuff is cured in autoclaves. The one at Boeing is big enough to cure a carbon fiber apartment building.
In theory, carbon fiber is much stronger than any of the other fibers. The trick is the overall process- resins, resin ratios, cures, etc. All the aerospace stuff is cured in autoclaves. The one at Boeing is big enough to cure a carbon fiber apartment building.
10-29-2007, 08:42 PM
#303
thanks frank..hope to return..84mph in a 41 apache with 650 hsp n/a motors..when we met you we were getting fuel....so we had some weight....economical in a comical way..
10-29-2007, 08:47 PM
#304
Geronimo36
Gold Member
10-29-2007, 08:53 PM
#305
next year will be a differant program....be back to my primary power......propnut to the waterpump.....all fresh.......do some cosmetic stuff, new vynal. re do trailer....300 hours on the power in boat.......its time......be well.......mark..
10-29-2007, 09:02 PM
#307
next year you can run in my boat....you drive i throttle......low compression blower motors not real responsive but dependable........LONGIVITY..........how sweet it is......even in a boat.........
10-31-2007, 06:07 AM
#310
Registered
First uses of CF "commercially" was in the early (1961->) 60´s on racing sailboats rudders, at the time they didn´t fare well because the lamination processes wasn´t up to par and they disingrated because of the forces twisting them apart.
In the late 70´s early 80´s Kevlar was the common norm on racing sailboats especially competition dinghies and I remember also those boats that had no gelcoat you could see thru.
Now that was for a purpose as the competitor could always check how the boat was trimmed by looking thru the bottom (some smaller class offshore racecat builders like Argo used that trick too on their prototypes in the mid 80´s).
There was Green seethru boats (ugly as hell) and then a Purple version which was not preferred much as it was felt to be too stiff and prone to crack.
But What a statement those boats made at the docks/starting line...It felt like a white man talking to Richard Pryor (R.I.P.) about manhood having a gelcoated boat...
Think someone go that far out that they leave the gelcoat out just for competitivness !
In the early eighties, a lot sooner than any motorsport including Formel1, CF was also used in sailing more than often, And it has a lot to do with the budgets of Americas Cup contenders and Around the world racers..as they used smaller boats for testing everything man can imagine !
In fact parts (Masts/Booms/Sails/Winches/Rudders/Keels/Hulls..you name it) made of Carbon Fiber today in racing sailboats are so common you grow tired looking at them (and have been banned on some classic classes), come to think of it the decklid on my Acer/Ferrari laptop is a CF lid...
Neither do I believe an Autoclaved (and prepregged) boat hull would be anything at least in the long run...a disposable raceboat (for one season) yes why not but nothing further as boats need some inbuilt flex,without cracking, IMO (just like oiltankers) and therefore I´d rather look into something else like Sorona in the future.
So what has this all to do with the prices of Apaches?
If I´m not mistaken Everyone are built at least Kevlar reinforced but the resin is it Epoxy or just plain old vinyl/polyester?
If they are 100% Kevlar/Epoxies even the nonracers then they are in fact not even expensive...try build one today with Epoxy/Kevlar/CF.
With a base calculation what it will cost most of us will land flat on our rears while passing out...
And then just look at the hardware bolted to them (or unbolted), they have a price tag too and usually not found in any other boats that are cheaper.
Last edited by MikeyFIN; 10-31-2007 at 06:26 AM.
