Roplene Hull

[Sam Morgan]

My question concerns hull materials and I couldn't find a better place on HOW to post the question. There is a company in Duram, North Carolina named Logic. They are making a 21-foot center console boat with the hull made of a material called Roplene. They warrant this hull for the life of the original owner. If there is a second owner, he can get the same warranty for $500. Also, if there is a third owner, he can get the life time warranty for an additional $500. The company must think this material is indestructable. If that is the case, why doesn't Hunter make their boats of Roplene also? This material is supposed to have the color in the material so it avoids the problems of a gelcoat on fiberglass?

 

[Dave Condon]

No responses

This forum is dedicated to the Hunter product only and that is why no one has responded to you. However, I will.I am in Raleigh and know of Logic Marine which was bought by Genmar. These boats are roto mold plastic and very durable. You will need to investigate them further yourself. I do know Hunter Marine did talk with them about the small boats but opted to go with JY on the Hunter small boats.

 

[Bob E.]

Fair question

I think the question asked was fair and appropriate. "Why doesn't Hunter make its boats out of Roplene?" is a Hunter oriented question. Someone familiar with materials science might even be able to give an enlightening answer. Apparently, Roplene is "Logic's patented dual-wall system made by roto-molding marine-grade polyethylene." Maybe it lacks sufficent rigidity for large hulls. Maybe the patent is the main problem! The manufacturer that uses this stuff has a Web site at http://www.logicboats.com/roplene.html

 

[Jim Morgan]

Re: Roplene hull for sail boats

Seems like a good question and appropriate for this forum. Genmar has only recently added Logic to their web site and Roplene has not been used for hulls larger than 17' until recently. The toughness of the material looks like it would do fine for a sail hull and not have to deal with the cracks, blisters, discoloration,maintainance and color change of fiberglass/gelcoat. For a lot of reasons it could be the fiberglass replacement of the future. I suspect the lack of responses has more to do with the newness of the material and therefore lack of experience and knowledge.

 

[W. P. Bozeman]

Re: Roplene hull for sail boats

I recall that the brochures for the h212 and smaller say they are made of a plastic material. I wonder if it isn't essentially the same as the "roplene" polyethylene plastic used by logic in their hulls. They both make the same assertion that it is "five times more impact resistant than fiberglass." Coincidence? Hmmm...