Abstracts 



CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 



The use and advantages of fiberglass reinforced plastics as structural materials and 

 their acceptance by major industries, particularly the marine industry, are discussed and 

 illustrated. Technical status of basic materials, production and engineering experience and 

 data is presented. The purpose of the manual as a guide for designers and fabricators 

 is emphasized. 



CHAPTER 2. BOAT HULL DESIGN 



Types of construction; single skin unstiffened and stiffened, sandwich, and composite 

 are discussed. Framing is defined and discussed. Reasons for choice of laminate are ex- 

 plained. Design considerations are discussed and loads to be assumed for design purposes 

 are given. Detailed examples of the structural design are given for a rowboat, a day sailer, 

 a runabout, a cruising sailboat, and a displacement type power cruiser. 



CHAPTER 3. DESIGN DETAILS 



Importance of good design details is explained. Right and wrong loading directions for 

 laminates are given. Acceptable joint and connection details are discussed and illustrated 

 for deck edge to shell, gunwales, shell halves, keel ballast to hull, repair, bulkhead or 

 frame to shell, cabin trunk to deck, fittings with pulling and pushing loads, appendages and 

 outfitting. Mechanical fasteners are discussed and values given for spacing and strength. 

 Trouble causing details including hard spots, stress concentrations, and knife edge crossings 

 are discussed and illustrated. 



CHAPTER 4. MATERIALS AND MOLDING METHODS 



The basic types of chopped strand, mat, woven roving and cloth fiberglass reinforce- 

 ments and their application to boat hull construction are discussed and tabulated. The appli- 

 cations of polyester and epoxy resins, inhibitors, catalysts and accelerators in fiberglass 

 laminates are discussed. The use of foam plastics for buoyancy, and wood, foams and 

 honeycombs for stiffener and sandwich core materials are described. 



Fundamental methods of molding used in fiberglass boat construction including contact, 

 bag, autoclave, matched die and the new sprayed reinforcement technique are described 

 and illustrated. 



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