(Even) faster spars — Part I

Matthew Searle describes CST Composites' route to widespread success in composite skiff spars

Introduction
The marine industry has long exploited the use of fibre-based composites, firstly in the structures of hulls and more recently in the spars and appendages. With the exception of a few stainless steel or titanium fittings many of today's high-performance boats are now built exclusively from carbon-fibre composites.

The benefits of using carbon composites for the manufacture of spars are obvious. A typical carbon epoxy laminate has a specific stiffness 2.4 times greater than aluminium and a specific strength five times greater. That means a carbon spar with equivalent stiffness to its aluminium counterpart will weigh around half as much and still be considerably stronger.

And weight is not the only advantage; the inherent stiffness benefits have allowed naval architects and engineers to optimise rig designs by reducing mast diameters and simplifying rigging and spreader arrangements. The properties of composites have also made it possible to build rigs far bigger than previously feasible using aluminium, thus helping to fuel the development of today's latest-generation superyachts...

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