View Single Post
  #29  
Old 11-07-2007, 06:23 PM
cmac2012's Avatar
cmac2012 cmac2012 is online now
Me, Myself, and I
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 38,427
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Doe View Post
One of his claims is that he was the largest single purchaser of carbon fiber in the US.
Didn't he say 'after defense industries,' or something like that? Oh, found it, he said, "except for the American air force, I've purchased the most carbon fiber of anybody ever." Each mast weighs 25 tons, three of them, 75 tons, that's a fair amount, assuming each mast might be 70 to 80% carbon fiber by weight.

The guy is a tad arrogant, no doubt about it. I've got mixed feelings about him.

My change of heart comes from the realization that the sort of crew needed for old time rigged ships is not likely to be reliably available and would be cost prohibitive at any rate. Maybe the sort of programmed masts and sails that he's experimenting with will save a lot of fuel one day.
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K
Reply With Quote