GSP stitches?

Incorrect and this falls into the researching the application and physical properties thing again. Spectra and Dyneema are seeing use grow continuously, in the industry. This tow materials have issues, but most are around employment in fabrics. unidi's are quite common, but knitted, stitched and perticularly woven fabrics are much more difficult. This is an engineering issue set, much like was experienced when aramids appeared in the mid 1960's. It took years just to develop machines that could make it into a useful product. Tow and strand use of these new materials are the primary applications currently, though work toward knitted and woven materials is on going (I can't wait), particularly spectra, which shows yet another advance in light, strong and stiff fabrics that can be used in an epoxy matrix.

Spectra is relatively cheap, so making up some unidi could work, if a bit tedious to do by hand. UHMWPE and HDPE have been in use in the industry for decades and are considered common place products. These materials wouldn't work in you seam sheathing application, but do have many other uses on a boat. I use UHMWPE and HDPE regularly for bearings, bushings and other load bearing applications.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with exploring new methods and materials, but the logical way to approach this is through research and physical properties understanding, rather then just taking a guess or making an assumption.

No, mat will not work as a seam sheath, as (again) it has no real strength and is a bulking agent used within a polyester or vinylester laminate schedule.

 

thinking out loud about "what if" and asking for opinions of users is also part of research especially in the early stages mate.

Googling spectra for boatbuilding yields a hit for this forum where there is a discussion which starts with some thinking out loud "I wonder" which follows onto a technical discussion with another user and leads to physical testing and use in a craft. This was regarding use in a composite with other fibres

I have spools of spectra and dyneema in my fishing arsnel. Will be cool to see how this can be used for something other then fishing line. I have an idea on how to make a tape with it. Will try if I cant get my hand on some fg tape

Made a tentative trade deal on an 8hp mariner today against a PA system I just have sitting around so things are coming together to get me on the water....just the tape slowing me down

 

The concept of stitching for structural members is flawed. The stitches could never distribute the load as effectively as the 2 or 4 inch overlap does when using cloth tape. The load would be concentrated at the stitch , overload the stitch or tear the plywood apart. Open up like a zipper

 

You can stitch structural elements, but why? The only thing stitches do is let a novice builder align panels together, before filleting and tape.

The Spectrra and Dyneema in your tackle box will need "finishing" to work in a fabric. As a stitch material, it's as good as anything else, though adjustment will be much more difficult then other choices, like wire or zip ties.

 

I dont mean using GSP similar to wire or ties. I meant with a needle, actual stitches with each pass of thread acting like a nail or screw but on the other panel instead of to a wood frame element. I made a 4' boat to be a crib for my baby out of ply. Such small panels in 4mm ply were very difficult to bend into a boat 40cm high and 80cm wide. Cable ties failed and wire would break when twisted to bring the panels together. I drilled 2mm holes 1cm apart and stitched with 30lb GSP. Then I tighten it in the manner of shoe laces. Everything came together. I finished it off with drywall tape on the seams with epoxy on the inside only and sliced the GSP off on the outside. I laced the corners with thick hemp string and gave the crib an antique look finish. This is suspended from 4 2x3 posts and looks like a boat in a dock. It felt stronger when just laced with GSP and "I wonder" what it be like if the seam was just epoxied and filleted upto and over the GSP. That is what I intend to explore with some tests in the near future