The composite king of water bodies
If you ask a non-racing boater or landlubber about the construction of recreational boats, they will most often say plastic or fiberglass. If you insist, the words resin, composite or carbon for racing will appear, but it will often take time before a neophyte thinks of wood, steel or aluminum. Since Michel Dufour's arrival in the yachting industry, composite has become the norm.
Fiberglass and polyester resin have opened the field of possibilities in terms of shapes and industrialization, while limiting maintenance. A kind of miracle for boaters and manufacturers... By adding foam, we create a lighter sandwich and by switching to "exotic" fibers like carbon, we gain even more performance. This explains the success.
A necessary rethinking of the recreational sector
But today, like many sectors, the nautical industry cannot avoid its impact on the environment. The classic composite materials used for pleasure boats, which depend on petrochemicals for the resin and very energy-intensive fibers, are very difficult to recycle. The Life Cycle Analysis of a boat is not very flattering.
So it is always interesting to look at the innovations in the composite sector. Natural fibers, which are also less harmful to the operator, and partially biosourced resins are becoming increasingly popular. But should we limit ourselves to these materials? What room is there for a rediscovery of classic wood or various metals? Can't the flexibility of curragh and its stretched skins on a thin structure inspire us? How to involve the yachtsman, the final user, in these reflections? This editorial will not conclude, but if yachting wants to remain a socially acceptable leisure activity, all initiatives and trials are welcome and we will not fail to relay them.
