CFS Visit to Padstow Boatyard

On Tuesday this week, Ross and myself took a trip up to Padstow Boatyard to see how they're getting on with their latest project, the PD15. And they're getting on pretty well!

Designed by Falmouth based marine design consultancy, Pelagic Design Ltd, using the striking traditional Cornish colours of black and gold, she really is going to be an impressive sardine fishing vessel.

This Month in Fibreglass: February 2015

This month's "This Month" is dedicated to being careful. It's health and safety gone mad. Hopefully the following blog will keep you safe, maybe out of prison, or help you avoid being cursed by an ancient Egyptian king. It's not just entertainment we provide here, but important lifestyle information too.

P-P-P-Pickup These Penguins

Just chillin' out - It's what penguins do best.

Fibreglass ice has berg-ered up these dumb penguins' footing at "The Deep" in Hull aquarium. It requires a non-slip coating. So be careful out there, fibreglass is slipperier than ice - FACT!

Penguin - showing off

Not suggesting that these penguins are spoiled but....

"Their £750,000 exhibit, based on an old South Georgia whaling station, gives visitors views of the penguins across three floors, both underwater and on land, and features the penguins' very own outdoor balcony with views overlooking the Humber."

Full story here.

This Month In Fibreglass: January 2015

Welcome to 2015! Can you believe it? Neither can we.

And to truly ring in the new year in style, what better than a random selection of news stories from across the globe - all with a tenuous link to fibreglass? Nothing! Here goes...

Northern Nudes

She's being restored... but she really ain't happy about it

The town of Doncaster is buzzing this month, amidst news that a beloved sculpture is to be restored to its former glory.
The giant fibreglass artwork, The Lovers, sparked much clutching of pearls when it was first unveiled in 1968. It was originally installed in the fountain of the then Arndale Centre, and proved to become a beloved fixture over the years. It seemingly disappeared in the mid-1980s during the centre's rebranding as the Frenchdale Centre.

But! In 2006, it came to light that The Lovers had been canoodling at the bottom of someone's garden for some 20+ years. There was even a Facebook group set up in its honour.

Tips for Restoring Faded Gelcoat

Time takes its toll - sun, salt and sea water will oxidise gelcoat, stealing the shine and leaving a rough, dull surface. The question is, if GRP is so good, why does this happen? It's simply that Gelcoat suffers from both oxidation and UV attack. Now, oxidation and UV damage are not the same thing. They don't have the same effect on a boat's finish and it's important to know the differences between them. Oxidation, caused by exposure to oxygen, results in the chalking you see on the palm of your hand when you touch an unprotected boat. This process is slowed by good maintenance and this means regular waxing, protecting the gelcoat from the elements.
UV damage is increased if you don't maintain the shine of your gelcoat. Shiny surfaces reflect UV rays better than dull surfaces and UV rays not only cause discolourations but can mechanically degrade the Gelcoat.
While oxidation only affects the surface, UV damage penetrates the full thickness of the gelcoat and can even damage the fibreglass beneath it. So, keeping oxidation under control will also keep UV damage at bay.
However, despite your best efforts, you will, eventually, find yourself losing the shine. Surfaces may look dull and tired and also feel rough to the touch. It may be time to consider some plastic surgery.

Blue turning white. This neglected gelcoat requires more than a quick wax!

Floating hot tub...

Two Dutch chaps, Frank de Bruijn and Jochem Karstanje, have invented and built a floating, wood-fired hot tub, which they have named, the HotTug.

The HotTug in action

May Special Offer!

This month, we're treating you to 5% off everything in our Marine Paints, Antifouling and Boatcare section.

Mattia 60 Made Lighter

Mattia has launched the Mattia 60, which has been made up to 2000kg lighter through the use of composite materials.

New technology for Cornish Crabbers

Composite Integration and the Marine Innovation Service in Falmouth are working with Cornish Crabbers to bring modern technology to the traditional boat yard.