Carbon fibre tubes help keep MacArthur on course
A
CompoTech product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Feb 14, 2005
CompoTech supplied the steering rods which linked the three rudders on Ellen MacArthur's impressive 75ft trimaran, B and Q/Castorama.
CompoTech has congratulated Ellen MacArthur on her success in becoming the fastest person to sail nonstop around the world, an astounding feat that has left sailors and nonsailors alike in awe of the diminutive UK-based yachtswoman.
CompoTech was pleased to supply the steering rods which linked the three rudders on MacArthur's impressive 75ft trimaran, B and Q/Castorama.
Five carbon fibre connecting tubes, 50mm in diameter and 2850mm in length, and two carbon fibre torsion tubes, 44.4mm in diameter and 1500mm in length, were used in B and Q/Castorama's steering equipment to provide a reliable and robust link between the rudders.
CompoTech's carbon fibre tubes, produced using its unique zero degree axial fibre laying process, provided a solution that was not only lightweight, but also strong enough to withstand the gruelling conditions to which the boat was subjected over the 71 days that she was at sea.
The proprietary manufacturing process and machines used by CompoTech offer excellent fibre and resin consolidation.
It enables the fibres to be laid accurately at the desired orientation resulting in a very high performance laminate.
The final component offers more than five times the strength and more than twice the stiffness of an aluminium equivalent.
CompoTech engineered the tubes to meet the exact requirements of the design specification, and delivered them to a Devon-based company, which fitted them into the steering equipment.
The total steering solution was then shipped to the principal boatbuilder in New Zealand.
"We are very pleased that Ellen has achieved this fantastic record", said Rory Carter, from CompoTech's UK office.
"Our composite tubes have been used in many different applications over the past ten years, but the marine industry is where we started and where we still aim much of our technical and development efforts".
"Our technology and manufacturing process is unique and we are delighted to see it used so successfully on one of the highest performing boats of our time".
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