PBO shrouds
- Thread starter Alan
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Why?
Have you had a rigging failure? Or is it just time to replace your standing rigging? If not, I'd wait.
Have you had a rigging failure? Or is it just time to replace your standing rigging? If not, I'd wait.
My standing rigging....
...is now 13 years old(not counting the headstay). It's getting time for replacement and PBO is a synthetic thread that is more than twice as strong as steel and 1/5 the weight. The weight savings in particular translates to a stiffer boat with better pointing. On a Hendreson 30 the steel rigging (at 31 lbs) was replaced with PBO (at 8 lbs). A net loss in weight aloft of 23 lbs. This nearly equals a crew member sitting on the weather rail. America's Cup and the like have been using PBO for nearly ten years because of the gains. West Marine is gearing up to produce PBO for the marine market place because they think it will soon replace steel rigging.
...is now 13 years old(not counting the headstay). It's getting time for replacement and PBO is a synthetic thread that is more than twice as strong as steel and 1/5 the weight. The weight savings in particular translates to a stiffer boat with better pointing. On a Hendreson 30 the steel rigging (at 31 lbs) was replaced with PBO (at 8 lbs). A net loss in weight aloft of 23 lbs. This nearly equals a crew member sitting on the weather rail. America's Cup and the like have been using PBO for nearly ten years because of the gains. West Marine is gearing up to produce PBO for the marine market place because they think it will soon replace steel rigging.
Started researching...
this stuff a couple months ago. The two things that turned me off were the initial cost and the short life of PBO. Do you really want to replace every 3-5 years?. I guess if you haul and store over winter you might get 6-8 years out of it. Not my cup of tea...
this stuff a couple months ago. The two things that turned me off were the initial cost and the short life of PBO. Do you really want to replace every 3-5 years?. I guess if you haul and store over winter you might get 6-8 years out of it. Not my cup of tea...
Yes, Honeyman
I read similar articles about the longevity of PBO. Both Navtec and West Marine are rating the longevity based on percent of working load. However according to Sailing World, "It seems that these life expectancies are driven more by the lack of historical data than science, because the fatigue resistance of PBO far exceeds that of steel." So it looks like these suppliers are opting for a conservative view much like boat builders of the 70's and 80's with their use of fiberglass. After years of experience they found that cutting the fiberglass construction in half would still produce an amazingly sound vessel. Today hulls are built at less than half the thickness of the ones from that era. None the less the cost of upgrade is a factor. But given that I'm facing the cost of replacement anyway, the extra expense may well be worth it. If the scientific data on PBO is correct then the longevity of the stuff will outlast steel bringing the net cost per year down to a reasonable number. It falls into the category of 'do I need a new genny now or next year?'..choices, choices...
I read similar articles about the longevity of PBO. Both Navtec and West Marine are rating the longevity based on percent of working load. However according to Sailing World, "It seems that these life expectancies are driven more by the lack of historical data than science, because the fatigue resistance of PBO far exceeds that of steel." So it looks like these suppliers are opting for a conservative view much like boat builders of the 70's and 80's with their use of fiberglass. After years of experience they found that cutting the fiberglass construction in half would still produce an amazingly sound vessel. Today hulls are built at less than half the thickness of the ones from that era. None the less the cost of upgrade is a factor. But given that I'm facing the cost of replacement anyway, the extra expense may well be worth it. If the scientific data on PBO is correct then the longevity of the stuff will outlast steel bringing the net cost per year down to a reasonable number. It falls into the category of 'do I need a new genny now or next year?'..choices, choices...
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