Karl Brogger wrote:
Do the coloured boats do better with consistent care. i.e. waxing? Nice thing being in a boat class that is in its infancy is that I don't have to worry about blending in with 40 other boats at nationals.
It has more to do with UV. They are getting better with UV protective coatings (so you can get away with unpainted carbon, for example, though you still have to worry about overheating in the sun causing outgassing of the epoxy, bubbles, layer seperation, etc) but there's far less need for it on white gelcoat so I doubt Hobie has, needs, or uses it.
Same issue with the kayaks - older plastics of any color had little UV protection and would fade, oxidize, and turn to powder if left out in the sun year after year. Modern (last ten years or so) plastics have gotten a lot better and I bet the new Hobie rotomolds could sit in the sun for years without fading or powdering.
_________________
Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/