Serious Project : Off with my Canopy !!!!!

[Wahoo 214]

I remember actually seeing the windshield turning brown and then poping. The next thing I remenber is sitting in the boat with water up to my waist looking up at the Helo and thinking I shouldn't be able to see the helo! Then Dave woke up from his nap and we restarted and still took 3rd! We were only about 100 yards from the checkered flag.

[T2x]

those windows are huge!!!!! so is the hatch... big holes are not strong.

Agreed. That is very old technology......

[T2x]

Thanks. You wouldn't think that would happen in a stuff with the design of that canopy on the Batboats.

Water pressure has little respect for the fact that a designer is called a "genius".

[T2x]

I remember the old CARLOS N CHARLIES X-TREAM had an F16 canopy that Jack C , got killed in and the reason being is jack made modfications to the canopy because he was such a big man and had claustrophobia .

As I recall he removed the hatch entirely because he didn't like the feeling of being closed in.

[T2x]

Yes there all kind of crazy stories but I also heard that from Ron Jones when we were buying the texstar stuff from him.

That is the standard Milspec test as demanded by the government. Texstar still uses that cannon.

THe reality is the canopies will flex acceptably under almost all scenarios. the problem is when the impact is up against a sheer point....or a metal support.... the canopy has no where to flex and it tears (sort of like being put into a "Break"....... another case for no internal roll cage on a traditional f-16 canopy.

T2x

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

As I recall he removed the hatch entirely because he didn't like the feeling of being closed in.

Yes, it was open on top. Like those bungies were really going to hold anything anyway. I recall a big part of the failure was it came loose from the deck.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Those internal roll bars on the seat two seaters behind the window is just a bad band aid anyway.

[T2x]

Why ???

That´s normal with a Cat when you go fast enough to find the limit.




* this is normal racing for us

While the F-16 design is fine for this style of boat....the speed is much lower...and the impact dynamics much lighter than on a full sized cat. Champ boats have small, almost tear away canopies that are fine because the boats are so light that they "bounce' off the water's surface in most cases. When they do "stuff" the deceleration is a much bigger problem on the driver's body than the water intrusion.

T2x

[Ratickle]

Since you're on and paying attention. Wouldn't an end-grain balsa core, new high-tech glass, laminate be stronger in a canopy (and lighter) than just layers of glass to a certain thickness? Or am I all washed up here????

[Steve 1]

Since you're on and paying attention. Wouldn't an end-grain balsa core, new high-tech glass, laminate be stronger in a canopy (and lighter) than just layers of glass to a certain thickness? Or am I all washed up here????

Solid glass has no stiffness and is self destructive ,Balsa is self defeating as well in many cases, Material choice for a structure that resists failure should revolve around materials that resist failure themselves..

[Ratickle]

I know this sounds stupid, but, when I raced and ran record RC boats. The strongest, and most flexible, program we came up with was carbon/kevlar weave glass, balsa cored, epoxy, vacuum bagged. In a crash they would destroy other boats, in a blowover approaching 100mph no big issues. And they were extremely light. I have a 54" Vee in the garage now that is less than three pounds with everything but motor. Stringers were built the same way.

[T2x]

Solid glass has no stiffness and is self destructive ,Balsa is self defeating as well in many cases, Material choice for a structure that resists failure should revolve around materials that resist failure themselves..

My opinion is that a good sandwich of various materials can and should do the job...my reference to CF/Tri-ax was as part of a sandwich laminate not alone....similar to a boat's bottom construction.

[Steve 1]

My opinion is that a good sandwich of various materials can and should do the job...my reference to CF/Tri-ax was as part of a sandwich laminate not alone....similar to a boat's bottom construction.

Exactly how it should be done.

[Ratickle]

So what core if not balsa?

[Steve 1]

I know this sounds stupid, but, when I raced and ran record RC boats. The strongest, and most flexible, program we came up with was carbon/kevlar weave glass, balsa cored, epoxy, vacuum bagged. In a crash they would destroy other boats, in a blowover approaching 100mph no big issues. And they were extremely light. I have a 54" Vee in the garage now that is less than three pounds with everything but motor. Stringers were built the same way.

Yes but the Ocean is a game changer the lightest boat I have built to date is 488 Kg 36' x 9' Cat with tanks.ready for nuts and bolts, I have an S glass/ Carbon Fabric nowadays and I can do a little better with the newer material.

I have some material testing on You tube.

[Steve 1]

So what core if not balsa?

Airex or Corecell ,Airex in fact Airex is what the UIM wanted in the Pods I have not looked at the new rules yet though.

[Ratickle]

Yes but the Ocean is a game changer the lightest boat I have built to date is 488 Kg 36' x 9' Cat with tanks.ready for nuts and bolts, I have an S glass/ Carbon Fabric nowadays and I can do a little better with the newer material.

I have some material testing on You tube.

1074 lbs....... That is light........

[Steve 1]

Here is some material testing this is old stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRzyw0Jo8Zg

[Dueclaws]

Steve-
When I removed the canopy on my Jag it had carbon and multi-ax cloth.
Rick-
Whose windshield will you use?

[Steve 1]

Steve-
I believe Airex is what you used in the Jags, is that correct?

When I removed the canopy on my Jag it had carbon and multi-ax cloth. (the bottom is double core Airex and the sides single core Airex).

Rick-
Whose windshield will you use?

Yes we used Airex from day one then switched Later to Core Cell when that came into the market.. Jack Clark builds a very Tough Boat and never hurt anyone in one... Best Regards