Composite materials have become the materials of choice for performance boat construction due to their excellent stiffness to weight ratios. The first boats to be built with composites were racing yachts, aiming at the ultimate performance with materials that provide the competitive edge. Advances in composites technology, such as the use of new heavier tow fibers, mean that composites are now an affordable option for all performance boats for racing or leisure activities.

Composite materials provide:

>  Higher rigidity, giving stiffer structures that can sail at faster speeds.
>  Weight-savings, to sail at faster speeds with enhanced stability and a higher loading capacity.
>  Safer boats, with a lower center of gravity and a better righting moment.
>  Design versatility, with a wide range of possibilities for tailor-made constructions.
>  High resistance to fatigue, as composites are rust and rot resistant.

Hexcel has extensive in-house weaving capabilities for the manufacture of unidirectional reinforcements, tapes and woven fabrics in glass, carbon, aramid and hybrid fibers.

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