Custom/Hybrid Glass VS Carbon

[mike b]

Was just talking to @JetFiend about this topic and hopfully it doesn't turn into a Winter/off Season Pissing contest fight. I have a Glass AM hull now and thinking of upgrading to a new hull (most likely carbon) but i have never flipped or done many Flatwater tricks. I will be riding as soon as i get big power in my ski and will be learning and flopping as the year goes on. So would i be better staying with a glass hull to hope the extra layers protect against damage or will learning on a Carbon hull be just as fine (after all carbon is stronger). I have fiberglass experience but not carbon, and i don't want to learn after breaking a carbon hull lol. Any thoughts with reasonable explanation or reasoning will be appreciated. REMEMBER I am not a pro so don't need a feather weight hull, but i am also not a pro so the better of a hull will help me out even more. GO!

 

[Big Kahuna]

What Hull and Engine you running now.

 

[mike b]

Im on a glass BOB gen 2 right now and upgrading motors to about a 900cc (TPE 964 most likely) but still considering things like dasa 850 and motors around that same size. I have 144 solas pump but will most likely be upgrading to a 148. Will be running pfp if that is important

 

[kevbo]

Carbon is around $100 for every pound saved compared to glass.

 

[mike b]

Lets not even think about price. Im just wanting to compare composites. Say its between a brand new glass hull vs a brand new carbon, or compare used hulls doesn't matter. Same price, same drive train setup. Just wanting to get an idea about durability and how risky is it to try new tricks on these hulls.

 

[DAG]

A 80lb carbon hull will be stronger than a 80 glass hull assuming the same quality tradesman lays up both hulls and he knows what he is doing.

 

[sneds]

I have been wondering the same thing. In the case of RRP , they also offer a carbon look hull. The outside layer is carbon and the rest is glass. I would be curious how it stacks up against the glass or carbon options. I have been told it's the best of both worlds, a bit lighter and the strongest of the the three layups. I'm not sure how true this but it might be something to consider.

 

[mike b]

A 80lb carbon hull will be stronger than a 80 glass hull assuming the same quality tradesman lays up both hulls and he knows what he is doing.

Well how about a 60 lb carbon hull (dvx, kdx, havoc, hurricane) vs a 100 lbs glass hull. So almost half the weight. It will help a rookie flick the hull around a bit easier because it's lighter but is it worth it looking at longevity

 

[DAG]

Both "can" be strongest. Depends on craftsmanship and quality of build materials. A good glass ski can be stronger than a poorly built carbon ski.

You see what I'm getting at? Way to many veritables for anyone to answer definitively. You might as well ask what oil is best

 

[jdog]

I work for a composite company and I've done extensive testing with all different types of materials and basically what it comes down to is fiberglass is heavier than carbon but handles impacts better like hitting a log or something. Carbon is much lighter and has a higher tinsel strength which basically means it can bend more without snapping but it sucks when it comes to impact resistance which is why I've never understood why they make helmets out of it other than less weight which equals less rider fatigue but as far as just slapping the water from failed attempts at tricks I don't think your gonna hurt the carbon and you'll shed some weight to help with the tricks

 

[jdog]

Both "can" be strongest. Depends on craftsmanship and quality of build materials. A good glass ski can be stronger than a poorly built carbon ski.

You see what I'm getting at? Way to many veritables for anyone to answer definitively. You might as well ask what oil is best

This is true

 

[mike b]

You might as well ask what oil is best

Lol I see you have read my posts ha. And I get what you mean by the variables on craftsmanship. I see all the companies I'm looking at good at what they build but I am buying used so it will depend how good they were a few yrs back just as much as today

 

[mike b]

I work for a composite company and I've done extensive testing with all different types of materials and basically what it comes down to is fiberglass is heavier than carbon but handles impacts better like hitting a log or something. Carbon is much lighter and has a higher tinsel strength which basically means it can bend more without snapping but it sucks when it comes to impact resistance which is why I've never understood why they make helmets out of it other than less weight which equals less rider fatigue but as far as just slapping the water from failed attempts at tricks I don't think your gonna hurt the carbon and you'll shed some weight to help with the tricks

Interesting. Slapping and flopping on the water us what I'm worried about. Not too much about impact but also I will be riding in a small lake which isn't very deep so that might be something to consider

 

[snowxr]

Stick with the fiberglass hull you have until you can do the tricks you want. Beat the hell out of it. THEN move on to the carbon ski of your dreams, so you don't trash it while learning. Carbon doesn't add skill.

 

[Breese08SJ]

1. The maximum stress it withstands before failing is its ultimate tensile strength. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS), often shortened to tensile strength (TS) or ultimate strength, is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before failing or breaking.
   
   
   

 

[kevbo]

1. The maximum stress it withstands before failing is its ultimate tensile strength. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS), often shortened to tensile strength (TS) or ultimate strength, is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before failing or breaking.
   
   

Skis stress material more in bending than tension. That is interlaminar shear. Carbon is a little stronger than glass in this area but it loads up faster. This is why carbon cannot take a hit in one place as well as glass. Carbon will overload and pop where glass streatches and spreads out the load.

 

[700Pirate]

I am sure you can find a used glass XFS on here somewhere for a decent price. Add a small 701 and go train. When that all fails and you can flip and roll off your own wake and even boat wakes then go buy a carbon ski. Train with a simple set up.