Vacuum and boat building go hand in hand. From form-gluing wooden parts together in the 1950s to today’s resin molds, vacuum from Busch makes sure that athletes reach their full potential with a reliable sailing partner: Their boat.
When Olympic gold is the goal, sailing boats need to be light, speedy, and easy to maneuver. As a result, the sailing boats seen in today’s regatta events are almost exclusively made of fiberglass and synthetic resin, a lightweight and durable composite material that is shaped in molds using vacuum.
Resin and fiberglass: a complementary pairing
Modern-day sailing boats are known as fiberglass boats, but the fiberglass is only part of the story: It is the combination with resin that gives the boat its strength. While plastic and resin alone are light, they are not particularly strong. And fiberglass fibers are just the width of a human hair – a size that would make working with them in isolation almost impossible, or at the very least, extremely fiddly. So, fiberglass is woven into rolls of fabric, making it much easier to work with. However, it is only when it is coated with resin under vacuum that it shows its true potential, creating a stiff, strong boat shell. The result is a tough but light material that is perfect for a sport where every gram counts – just a small amount of extra weight could make the difference between winning or losing!
A bubble-free mold
Depending on the type of mold used, fiberglass fabric is layered either into or onto the outside of the mold, then “wetted out” with the resin. But ensuring smooth, even, and bubble-free resin is not as easy as simply spreading it on. Instead, vacuum makes sure everything is uniform. The mold is completely sealed in foil and a vacuum pump is attached. All the air inside the mold is suctioned out, then the resin is drawn in. This process makes sure that the resin enters the mold at a steady pace, and that no bubbles are left inside. Vacuum pumps from Busch help maintain a consistent vacuum level, resulting in a higher quality, bubble-free product and no need to repair or rework any cavities inside the structure. And, once the resin dries, you are left with a strong shell that is ideal for quick maneuvers in the water.
Boats Worthy of Olympic Gold
Creating an even keel with vacuum
More weight, less speed
Ask any regatta racer and they will tell you: The heavier the boat, the less likely they are to get to the finish line first. Water friction is the main reason. In water, an object will displace its own weight in water – so every extra kilogram of boat has to displace an additional kilogram of water. The more weight, the more friction, and the slower the boat will move through the water.
However, while you want your boat to weigh as little as possible, a heavier crew is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, sailing relies on wind, and too light a crew can mean that strong winds are a bit of a challenge, as there is less weight to keep the boat on course. Conversely, lighter crews perform better when the weather is calm. As a result, regattas often have a “weigh-in” criteria, where the weight of the crew is predefined, making sure no team has a competitive advantage, whatever the weather.
Ask any regatta racer and they will tell you: The heavier the boat, the less likely they are to get to the finish line first. Water friction is the main reason. In water, an object will displace its own weight in water – so every extra kilogram of boat has to displace an additional kilogram of water. The more weight, the more friction, and the slower the boat will move through the water.
However, while you want your boat to weigh as little as possible, a heavier crew is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, sailing relies on wind, and too light a crew can mean that strong winds are a bit of a challenge, as there is less weight to keep the boat on course. Conversely, lighter crews perform better when the weather is calm. As a result, regattas often have a “weigh-in” criteria, where the weight of the crew is predefined, making sure no team has a competitive advantage, whatever the weather.