Product Description

This masterly work will continue to be an invaluable source of reference for anyone wanting practical advice on working with GRP, in order to make repairs and improvements correctly and thus extend the life of their boat. Since it was first published 40 years ago, Hugo du Plessis' Fibreglass Boats has become a classic, relied upon by owners, surveyors and boat builders keen to understand how fibreglass behaves, and obtain practical advice on working with GRP. In a deliberately non-technical manner, he explains the peculiar nature of fibreglass, its durability, its weaknesses, where its likely to fail, the effects of use and the weather, plus the latest research into causes of the biggest worry for owners - blistering and osmosis. 'One of the most respected works on the subject thorough and its scope is vast' Yachting Monthly 'A long-established classic' Kelvin Hughes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #226409 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

Review
"'One of the most respected works on the subject... thorough and its scope is vast' Yachting Monthly 'A long-established classic' Kelvin Hughes"

About the Author
Hugo du Plessis has spent a lifetime working with fibreglass. Forty-five years ago he was one of the pioneers, starting as a moulder and boatbuilder and later becoming a surveyor specialising in fibreglass.

Customer Reviews

Does what it says on the tin
Fibreglass - and just about everything relevant to it and boats is fully covered here. Many good drawings illustrate throughout and some b/w photographs that are not so good. However, the reader can easily follow the text and drawings, so there's none of the constant re reading needed with many technical books. Good design, good practice and the application of basic engineering common sense are fully advocated and explained. The author is obviously a man of some broad experience.

The book does occasionally dip into the deeper technical aspects, with many charts and tables comparing various aspects of fibreglass, though never to a point that requires a chemists degree.

The author certainly doesn't pull any punches with his comments on boat builders. (As he asks - how many builders are really bothered by what you think of the boat when its 10 years old?). Also, some of the views on osmosis and its treatment probably go against what most boat owners expect but he makes strong arguments in his defence.

A handy size book, almost 300 pages of quality paper, clear text and drawings. Very good comprehensive book for those interested or studying the subject title. I just wish more boat builders would buy it!