Fibreglass Boats

This masterly work will continue to be an invaluable source of reference for anyone wanting practical advice on working with GRP, in order to make repairs and improvements correctly and thus extend the life of their boat. Since it was first published 45 years ago, Hugo du Plessis' Fibreglass Boats has become a classic, relied upon by owners, surveyors and boat builders keen to understand how fibreglass behaves, and obtain practical advice on working with GRP. In a deliberately non-technical manner, he explains the peculiar nature of fibreglass, its durability, its weaknesses, where its likely to fail, the effects of use and the weather, plus the latest research into causes of the biggest worry for owners - blistering and osmosis. 'One of the most respected works on the subject... thorough and its scope is vast' Yachting Monthly 'A long-established classic' Kelvin Hughes

Since its first edition in 1964, owners and professionals have relied upon this classic reference to understand the many facets of fiberglass boat construction. Now completely updated, it is an invaluable, nontechnical resource for expert information on the principles of fiberglass construction, as

Since it was first published 40 years ago Hugo du Plessis' Fibreglass Boats has become a classic, relied upon by owners, surveyors and boat builders keen to understand how fiberglass behaves, and obtain practical advise on working with GRP. In a deliberately non-technical manner, he explains the peculiar nature of fiberglass, its durability, its weaknesses, where it is likely to fail, the effects of use and the weather, plus the latest research into causes of the biggest worry for owners - blistering and osmosis. This masterly work will continue to be an invaluable source of reference for anyone wanting practical advice on working with GRP, in order to make repairs and improvements correctly and thus extend the life of their boat.

This masterly work will continue to be an invaluable source of reference for anyone wanting practical advice on working with GRP, in order to make repairs and improvements correctly and thus extend the life of their boat. Since it was first published 40 years ago, Hugo du Plessis' Fibreglass Boats has become a classic, relied upon by owners, surveyors and boat builders keen to understand how fibreglass behaves, and obtain practical advice on working with GRP. In a deliberately non-technical manner, he explains the peculiar nature of fibreglass, its durability, its weaknesses, where its likely to fail, the effects of use and the weather, plus the latest research into causes of the biggest worry for owners - blistering and osmosis. 'One of the most respected works on the subject... thorough and its scope is vast' Yachting Monthly 'A long-established classic' Kelvin Hughes

The fascinating story of fiberglass boats and the mavericks who dreamed them. Nine out of ten sailors today own sturdy, often beautiful fiberglass craft. Fiberglass brought boating to the non-rich, but the history of that revolution has never been told. Daniel Spurr rectifies this omission with his highly readable and affectionate account of the fiberglass boat, from its earliest incarnation in World War II to the present day. In the early days, when shoestring genius was unfettered by industrial efficiency, there were boats with tailfins, boats baked in ovens, and boats designed to be dropped from planes. The voyage from those first ugly ducklings to the graceful boats of the 1990s makes a riveting adventure of triumph and ruin. Along the way, Spurr profiles landmark designs that now set the standards in the used-boat market, and he portrays the revolution in human terms, introducing us to the vivid personalities who invented--often in their garages and rarely at a profit--the world of boating we know today.

The contents are intended to give the reader a sound basic knowledge of FRP and it's possibilities and limitations in boatbuilding. Any person using the document is likely to have some technical or management capacity upon which to base the information. It is not intended to describe all aspects of FRP, but attempts to cover most subjects applicable to small vessel construction and setting up a new boatyard. The publication leads up to and deals mainly with the single skin manual layup technique, however, other FRP technologies are also presented. Sections such as Design and Construction Considerations, Planning for Construction and the Production Flow Chart are intended to stimulate appraisal of the requirements of FRP boatbuilding while others such as Workshop, Equipment and Tools and Basic Vessel Construction offer practical guidelines.

This book presents the small boat designer & builder with a basic insight into the nature of fiberglass as a boat-building material, as well as a sound, yet simple, approach to analyzing fiberglass boat hull structures. The basic principles of fiberglass, including its advantages & disadvantages are outlined & thorough review is given to the characteristics of fiberglass materials & laminate design properties. In addition, valuable data is presented on basic design principles such as selection of structural loads, safety factors, deflection & vibration limitation. The level of detail presented in this book is tuned to the boat designer who recognizes the need for a sound engineering analysis of the fiberglass structures he designs, tempered with a practical, uncomplicated approach. The book is well illustrated & includes numerous step-by-step design examples to demonstrate the principles presented. List $25; Members $20. The Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, 601 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306. phone: 201-798-4800 FAX: 201-798-4975. website: http://www.sname.org.