Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32SEPTEMBER 2016 • FOGHORN 9 FOGHORNFOCUS: TECHNOLOGY Because of the very high cost of the carbon fiber raw material, its use only makes sense where its superior stiffness and strength-to-weight can be optimized. This optimization normally results in relatively thin laminates over core materials that do not have the toughness of the other less expensive options. Maintenance: We have seen that both laminated wood and aluminum can be extremely long-lived with very low maintenance compared to steel. However both materials need careful inspections and immediate attention should rot or corrosion be found in order to prevent the necessity of expensive repairs. While steel is less likely to be affected by dramatic or sudden localized corrosion as aluminum it is more of a constant maintenance burden to keep ahead of the rust over time. The above discussion generalizes the various materials performance in completed vessels.Any of the materials can be tailored by careful design to excel more or less in their strength, toughness, weight, level of finish, and maintenance characteristics. However, it is always a matter of compromis- ing one desirable characteristic for the benefit of another. We offer our above opinions as a general guide to assist in selecting the most suitable material that offers the least compromises in an op- erator’s list of priorities. Q: Are lithium/polymer batteries safe for passenger marine operations? Are they a good substitute for lead-acid batteries in a boat that needs to save weight? Will they replace lead-acid batteries in the future? Ed Vaughn, DeJong and Lebet A: These are good questions and important ones. First of all, while lead-acid batteries are very safe in marine operations settings, lithium/ polymer batteries do have some prop- erties that require caution and more care on the part of vessel operators. For example, the charging circuits need to be carefully monitored. However, lithium/polymer batteries are lighter than their lead acid counterpoints. In