thicknesses below the waterline and only 1.9mm above water, yielding a total weight of only 90kg, and a strong, light deck structure of only 90kg as well… In total, the boat weighs only 1,300kg, about half the weight of other boats in this class. The foils are solid infused


laminates with fibre orientations aligned to control torsional and bending loads so the foils can be trimmed accurately. With precise lamination process developed with help from Sicomin, the Candela team gets exactly the correct wetting properties and the precise resin-fibre ratios in these critical structures that take only 15 hours to build. ‘We helped Candela reach their


goals with the development and use of our 1710 high-performance resin matched with their choice of carbon fibre,’ said Sicomin’s Marc Denjean. ‘We could adjust the working time and cure rate to match their process and help optimise the infusion and the post-curing time and temperature they needed. The overall result was a boat which came in at about 240kg, thereby allowing them to use a 230kg battery pack for greater power and range.’ It's the mechanical properties of Sicomin’s 1710 resin that made it


Above: the entire hull structure of this 7.7-metre boat weighs just 90kg – and it is built without using any pre-preg carbon or autoclaves to keep costs under control. The carbon fibre hull shell is only 3mm thick below the waterline and just 1.5mm thick in the topsides. A foam core provides the necessary rigidity. Right: the tall, slender foils require extremely precise control so they need to be immensely stiff as well as strong


the right choice for Candela: infusing carbon laminates can be a tricky process that requires just the right viscosity in the catalysed resin to allow it to flow freely under the vacuum bag and achieve the correct saturation. Sicomin 1710 delivers this performance.


And finally, Sicomin’s companion epoxy adhesive product Isobond


SR7100TH has proven perfect for bonding together the constituent parts of the Candela 7, whether in thin or thick beads. SR7100TH has adjustable working times to match the production process, which means it is user-friendly in application and not prone to micro-cracking in long- term fatigue testing. www.sicomin.com


q SEAHORSE 73


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