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Alden Yachts Announces Epoxy Composite to be Construction Standard for All Yachts October 28, 2002. Alden Yachts announced that all future boats, sail and power, will be built using epoxy resin with E-Glass, Kevlar or Carbon Fiber laminates, triple vacuum bagged and post thermal cured. Epoxy resin is impregnated into the fiberglass material prior to laminating. This way the glass-to-resin ratio, as well as weight, can be controlled while visually ensuring there are no dry areas before the glass is in the mold. To obtain a stronger laminate and eliminate air entrapment, each hull and deck is triple vacuum bagged: after the outer skins are laminated, after the core is installed and after the inner skin is laminated. Decks will be constructed in the same manner as hulls. When the hull, deck, and bulkheads are laminated, the parts will be post cured in an oven, some sixty feet long, constructed for this process. During the entire curing process, which lasts over a day, the temperatures are monitored with imbedded thermal probes to maintain constant and uniform temperature control throughout the process. Exterior surfaces are individually finished in Awlgrip acrylic urethane to provide a long lasting high gloss finish eliminating the fading due to oxidation commonly found with the gelcoat finishes used on production boats. By
using this process, the completed vessel's weight may be reduced by
up to 18% while achieving higher strengths without VOC emissions. David
MacFarlane, President of Alden Yachts, summarizes, "this process
will allow us to build a faster, stronger, lighter boat with a full
furniture interior, complete with all the cruising luxuries available,
and a superior exterior finish, while utilizing an environmentally friendly
manufacturing process." MacFarlane further adds, "Alden Yachts
has long been known for its traditional aesthetic, but we continue to
make technological advances in the boat building process that keep us
in the forefront of our industry. This is a particularly significant
move in the construction of power boats, where the weight reduction
and enhanced performance will distance us from other builders."
For more information contact Alden Yachts at 401.683.4200 or email at pressrelease@aldenyachts.com
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