Thanks for the support Poohbah.

Again Wouter is mixing his arguements because he has argued himself into a corner over the macro economics of carbon fiber.

What he's really arguing against is anything thats not in support of his class, f16. So, he argues against Acats, carbon, availability of molds, and me.

So lets break this down.

You are quoting COMMERCIAL boatbuilders as your sources. You claim that carbon is "Impossible" to get. This is not true. Go to Jamestown distributors and buy some. Or I'll send you some as proof. Dont worry it wont hurt you. Its not scary.

What is true is that the COMMERCIAL boat builders are finding it hard to get the specific weaves, in the specific WIEGHTS that they want at the prices they are used to, in BULK rolls. Just because I'm a nice guy I'll cut you some slack on this point, they probably said, "Geez, carbon is impossible to find these days." But it was just an expression, dont take these things literally Wouter.

But again our discussion centered around my HOMEBUILT project. Oops, hey I only need 6 sq meters per hull. Not a 100yrds roll for my next 12 boats. Do I really need to go find 3 sources for 12 sq meters to prove my point?

Hey, I'm not lying - go to Jamestown distributors and buy some carbon, its available from a local distributor. What no local distributor next to the tulip farm? Try around the corner from the wooden shoe guy, or next to the windmill.

In the longer term, the supply shortage of carbon fiber and the airline industry adoption is a good thing for us. Dupont, Dow, BASF, and a bunch of other BILLION dollar companies are ramping up production to meet the demand. So in the short term carbon will be more expensive and small COMMERCIAL boat builders will find it hard to get, but in the long run, production will increase to meet demand, supply will increase, and prices will come down. This is what we do in the US, its called capitalism and it works.

Dont worry be happy Wouter, the future is carbon, not plywood.

By the way the Acat fleet in the US is growing like a weed.

40 boats at the winter regatta, with some unbelievalble talent.

Whats the F16 class doing? How many boats in the US? Any Olympic silver medalist showing up at your F16 regatta's?

No?, keep trying, maybe someday.

Sorry Bitch


Last edited by bvining; 02/08/06 11:52 AM.