[Rhodes22-list] Stan, if you are lurking

[S/V Lark]

For those stuck finding or making unique parts for our boats:

The soft black plastic used by GB for many things is a marine grade HDPE
called “Starboard”.   It is not great in sheer, but easy to work with
standard wood tools and requires no finishing.    The material arrived
Thursday from an online vendor, I went sailing last night after work.    

I believe my rudderhead may have been stressed by the outboard, while trying
to keep the Lark from drifting into its dock neighbor singlehanding in
strong crosswinds.    I will raise the rudder in these circumstances, since
speed is low.

An Australian I know online suggested G10 would be a stronger material.   I
understand why Stan didn’t use it.   It is more expensive.   The dust causes
cancer in California.    It requires tile saws or other specialized cutting
tools.   It must be painted for UV protection, but automotive plastic bumper
paint is supposed to work well.   I’m told 1/4” sheets are at least as
strong as similar thickness 6061 aluminum.   No plasma cutter is needed.   
That is my winter layup project.   The stock “starboard” cheeks weigh about
5.5 pounds each, I will compare when done.   This is the material computer
motherboards are made out of, only thicker.   If you ever tried to break a
circuit board, you know how strong it is.   



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Alex Cole
S/V Lark
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Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/