Carbon Fibre Dispensation Decisions

In the wake of the recent rules changes a number of dispensation requests have been received and resolved. The decisions are below;

Carbon Fibre for running repairs and maintenance

Hulls 21, 50, 211, 77, 124

(Carbon fibre has been used on these hulls as part of general running repairs and maintenance. In each case there has been a complete open disclosure over the full extent of the use of carbon-fibre.)

21: Carbon fibre was used for repairs and maintenance to the hull and was not seen to be performance enhancing. It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership.

50: Carbon fibre was applied to the stringers that run along the cockpit floor. It use was for simple repair and maintenance to floor straps, and is not performance enhancing. It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership.

77: Strips of carbon fibre around aft bulkhead tanks were for repair and maintenance and are not performance enhancing.  It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership.

124: Carbon fibre reinforcing to the outside of the centrecase. The strips of carbon fibre applied before 2012 are just repair and maintenance and not performance enhancing. It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership.

211: Carbon fibre was used to reinforce a broken forward deck beam and is not performance enhancing.  It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership.

190. Carbon fibre used to repair collision damage and separation of the side tanks from the cockpit floor.  It has permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership

External Carbon Fibre sheathing to cockpit area.

Hulls 309, 523, 524

900mm x 1100mm (approximately) of carbon fibre has been used as external sheath under cockpit floor to make this area more resilient. In #523, the 3mm side tanks and forward and aft bulkheads also have a layer of carbon fibre to make them more resilient. These were done before rules were introduced defining side tank and bulkhead construction.)

#’s 309, 523, and 524: Carbon fibre has been used to sheath an area 900mm x 1100mm (approximately) on the external surface of the hull shell beneath the cockpit floor, and in #523, on one face of cockpit side tanks and bulkheads. These boats have permanent dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 that is transferable with change of ownership. Note that internal sheathing of the hull floor will cancel this dispensation and result in withdrawal of the measurement certificate.

Full Carbon Fibre Sheathing

Hulls 194, 521, 529,216,101

These hulls have full external sheathing in carbon fibre, but no internal sheathing on the cockpit floor. #’s 194, 521 and 216 had carbon-fibre sheathing fitted by their current owners, while #529 had its carbon-fibre sheathing fitted by a previous owner, which was not known by the current owner at the time of purchase. Full and complete disclosure of all relevant information has been provided by the owners of 194, 521 and 529

#’s 194, 521 and 529, 216, 101. Carbon fibre has been used to sheath the external surface of the hull shell. It has dispensation under Class Rule 1.10.14 while it is being sailed by the current owner.  Note that any change in the sheathing of the internal or external surfaces of the hull shell, or any change of ownership will cancel this dispensation and result in withdrawal of the measurement certificate.

Carbon Fibre “sandwich”

Hull 511

The main points of non-compliance in #511, is the full external sheathing in carbon fibre combined with internal carbon fibre sheathing of the cockpit floor surface area, creating a sandwich construction that is significantly stronger and stiffer than intended under the current rules.

511:  The hull has carbon fibre sheathing to the hull shell external surface and to parts of the hull shell internal surface.  The measurement certificate is withdrawn under Class Rule 1.10.6.

It is also suggested that, when a certificate is withdrawn, or when a boat undergoes significant alterations to the external or internal surfaces of the hull shell, then the hull should be subjected to a full re-measure before a new measurement certificate is issued.

Rob Ebert

ZOA Executive

October 2019