Eco-Friendly Materials??

[the1much]

hahaha

[bigalogigalo]

are there no bioplastics which are strong enough and use no epoxies etc. ?

[mongo75]

hey Jim I knew my response would be right up your alley LOL

[mongo75]

Bigalogigalo (damn that's long) what is a bio-plastic? The only kinda plastic you could use without epoxy is just a hard plastic like thye use for making injection molded plastic toys, i.e. a radio control boat hull, just on a much larger and thicker scale. Honestly I'm sure your intentions are good and all, but you gotta break eggs to make an omelet.....

[masalai]

Is italian-inglish for "big gigalo"? Plastic comes from petroleum, unless you will be using recycled stuff 1000's of tonnes from the tip or recycling centres... "Sail in last weeks plastic" has a "ring" to it but most of that plastic is unstable in UV - or is supposed to be

Sorry, Bigalogigalo, But I cannot see much that could be recycled for boats except for the crew, and being addicted, they only need help in with-drawl... Entry, like with naughty drugs, only takes money and a feeling for adventure and an innocent "try it out" and you become a wannabe or sailor for life

[Kaptin-Jer]

Lets make some suggestions :

1. Roll and tip instead of spray

1. If you spray tent the boat

1. Tent the boat and cover the floor for any sanding work

1. use a vacume with your sander

Thats a start that will get some pros neck hair standing up.

These are things we should be doing to be "green", but we don't, myself included. try sanding a 38' hull. Then try sanding the same hull dragging a vacume hose, working inside a tent thats 115 degrees. Yes we would all like to be green, but there is a point....

[the1much]

i do all cept the roll and tippin,,in fact,,the same things that make painting more eco-friendly are the same things you need to do to get a good paint job

[bigalogigalo]

lol, no its 'big al gigalo'.... my name is al.....nickname big al ( ) and gigalo....well i'll let you work it out....haha

intentions are all good yeah, no-one (manufacturers majorly) seems concerned that its becoming increasingly expensive to get oil to make the plastics, which will ultimately mean higher purchase prices on us....less people buying...industry suffering...people losing jobs etc....

I would have thought at least someone would be looking into using 'greener' materials for construction.

shame eh?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by the1much

but,,,,the resin itself ( how its made, and from what its made from) isnt eco-friendly.
and P.S. Kach,,,,,,,them hovercrafts as fun as they look?,,,,,can i pilot yours?,,,actually i couldnt pilot one,,,,,but i can drive one

I think that a progressive view of "eco-friendly" includes the carbon footprint of the product lifecycle.

1. How much energy does it consume to produce the product?

2. How far do you have to ship or source it from?

3. How do you recycle or dispose of it when done?

4. How much energy does it consume when in operation?

I got a shop tour by the owner of this hovercraft builder last year. I think he told me that the resin is reproceessed for another use and not just thrown into a landfill. There are a bunch of regulations he is complying with that might not be technically "green" or "eco-friendly" but are in the same spirit. It might be that the resin will not activate or cure until it's applied to the section being fabricated, I forget the details but you may be able to pick some information up off their website or the article written about them.

Atlas Hovercraft:
http://www.atlashovercraft.com/

Article in Composite Technologies:
http://compositesworld.com/ct/issues...ebruary/111251

[Kaptin-Jer]

I see someone has taken classes to be certified in green construction. I have too, but be careful in this forum. These guys can get pretty nasty when you start talking about this and boat building / repair
This clip is the utimate green

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Kaptin-Jer

I see someone has taken classes to be certified in green construction. I have too, but be careful in this forum.

I know sevral other architects who have LEED certification and or are studying for it. Classes are not cheap, and it takes time - it's on my list of things to do. Until then I pick up basic information by reading and talking to other architects.

I've seen that salt-water thing before, pretty cool.

[the1much]

o.k.,,,the saltwater thingys coolz,,,cept.,,,,,hehe,,,,you need another "form" of energy to run the radio wave machinybobob.,,,,,and everyone( including me) has said wood,,,,but for the wood to be green,,,,it would have to be a "disposable" boat,,,because without chemical treatment doesnt wood rot and get water logged after a year or 2?

[simon]

A company called Braskem (www.braskem.com) is producing Polyethylene made of Alcohol. The alcohol used, is made of sugar cane. This could be a green plastic, but I do not know anything about the carbon footprint in production.

[the1much]

i see a thing on t.v. last night ( so it mus be true hehe) and it was on loggers,,both sides,,,well kinda,,,it was on the "industry",,,but about tree farms ( i own a 78acre "tree farm" in maine),,,,but anyways,,the dude said,," most "green" people and the "industry" dont mind working togather,,they even help each other in most places, and the "green" people are nat saying "stop logging" they just want it done in a responsible way,,and not harm the forests, but as in ANYTHING theres "radicals" that go over board.,,,,so i think we need to think more like the thread says,,,,,and think more "friendly" not totally green

[mongo75]

WOW- great invention thingee- I'd be wouldn't be surprised if the oil companies hired a hitman to take that guy out and burn his lab down.