As a material for boat building, fiberglass has gained in popularity over wood and metal in both developed and developing countries, mainly because of the relative simplicity of construction, the ability to produce many identical hulls from a single mold, and the ease of maintenance of the boats themselves. Fiberglass boats are completely watertight, rot-proof and resistant to borers.
Disadvantages of fiberglass stem from the health risks associated with inhalation of fiber dust during construction, and the fact that the boats are slow to degrade and disposal at the end of their life is difficult.
Fiberglass is a term used to describe Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP), a material consisting of glass fiber impregnated with resin. Typically, a hard wearing surface is created with the use of a gel coat, strengthened by layers of fiberglass mat impregnated with resin. The required strength is achieved either by using several layers of mat or by using a thicker gauge of mat.
Materials and equipment