Wellcraft infusion molding, late 90s.

[Krauthammer]

Does anybody remember a Wellcraft subsidiary company in the Carolinas that was about to launch a line of small skiffs using some type of resin and fiber infusion? Not unlike VARTM but with fiber parts in the resin.

Don't know if the company ever made it past the development stages but I remember that the technology appeared promising.

[keysdisease]

Could you be thibking of this:

http://www.triumphboats.com/

From the site: "Triumph hulls are made with Roplene, a virtually indestructible molded polymer designed to deliver strength, safety and a lifetime of enjoyment."

Steve

[Krauthammer]

Thank you Steve, that is the boat manufacturer I was thinking off. They use Roplene which is a rotational molding technique.

For some reason I thought that they were using a fibrous polyethylene for the walls and that they were filling the cavities with a chopped fiber enriched foam. I was wrong.

[keysdisease]

No Problem, happy to help. When last I heard the parent company (Brunswick) was going to start making pontoons for pontoon boats out of the stuff. The fact that it's not as pretty as fiberglass makes that a good fit for this process.

It is tough stuff, I personally took a hit at one with a medium sledge hammer, just bounced off.

Steve