Info on c-flex

[al ailsworth]

I recently looked at an older wooden sailboat that had been "c-flexed' several years ago. I would normally shy away from such on a wooden boat, but internally the frames, etc. looked ok with a quick inspection, and the external hull looked great. However, I am not very familiar with c-flex and its success. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

[ssor]

http://www.seemanncomposites.com/cflex.html

Try this site. The stuff has been around for a long time.

[Thad Van Gilder]

The traditional C Flex fix of C Flex over 5200 over the planking appears to be the best way of doing that job. It still isn't the best answer, but it is the best road to take if you go that route.

-Thad

[Dan McCosh]

C-flex is a glass-fiber matrix consisting of a series of glass rods sewn between two layers of cloth. It can be used as a way of setting up a hull on molds, similar to planking. Sheathing a hull with it is about the same as any other structural sheating--heavy glass, wood, etc. The theory is that it is a structural shell more or less carrying the old boat around inside it. It often works, but will end up heavy, and done right is fairly expensive. Done with a badly deteriorated hull, it is literally a basket case. I've seen a number of hulls constructed with C-flex, but none used a sheathing.

[paladin]

also with most c-flex applications, you need a very low shrinkage resin, and you will find that with the finished product you will have a very rich resin to glass ratio...The application of c-flex over a wooden hull (think polyester resin) will change the displacement just enough that the increased displacement offsets the added weight of the resin/c-flex matrix....

[al ailsworth]

Thank you for the information. I have seen several good hulls c-flexed, but didn't know about long term effects. Also, does anyone know any additional info regading Vere Crockett, designer and builder- of a 38' schooner out of Camden or Rockport?