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Early History of Composites

Early History of Composites

  • 1972: Munich Games, glass fibre composite hulls debut in kayaks, canoes, and rowing shells; Empacher rowing boat, first sandwich structure
  • 1980s: Introduction of aramid and carbon fibre composite in rowing and canoe hull construction
  • 1984: Los Angeles Games saw the debut of composite paddles and oars
  • 1988: The full composite Eagle kayak from Van Dusen (USA) led to two gold medals at the Seoul Games. Introduction of the “wing” paddle design (fig.1)
  • 1991: The «hatchet» blade for oars was introduced
  • 2000: Eagle kayak/canoe evolves with “peaked decks” and later Olympic rules on shape width change returning to more traditional boat shapes (fig.2)
  • 2015: Nelo (Portugal) revolutionizes boat design by introducing the carbon fibre
    Cinco model with an inverted bow, that minimizes drag (fig.3)

Recent Development

Recent Developments

  • Olympic rowing, kayak, and canoe boats feature full carbon/epoxy sandwich composite structures, ensuring lightweight construction, stiffness, and durability (fig.4)
  • Carbon fibre composites extend beyond boat structures to various components, including shoe plates, seats, riggers, oarlock holder blocks, fins, and rudders
  • Oars and paddles in contemporary usage are entirely crafted from carbon composites and designs are still evolving (fig.5 & 6)
  • The outer shell of slalom canoeing helmets is constructed using carbon fibre composites (fig.7)

Gallery

Gallery

The full composite Eagle kayak from Van Dusen (USA) led to two gold medals at the Seoul Games. Introduction of the “wing” paddle design
1. The full composite Eagle kayak from Van Dusen (USA) led to two gold medals at the Seoul Games. Introduction of the “wing” paddle design

 

Eagle kayak/canoe evolves with “peaked decks” and later Olympic rules on shape width change returning to more traditional boat shapes
2. Eagle kayak/canoe evolves with “peaked decks” and later Olympic rules on shape width change returning to more traditional boat shapes

 

Nelo (Portugal) revolutionizes boat design by introducing the carbon fibre
3. Nelo (Portugal) revolutionizes boat design by introducing the carbon fibre

 

Olympic rowing, kayak, and canoe boats feature full carbon/epoxy sandwich composite structures, ensuring lightweight construction, stiffness, and durability
4. Olympic rowing, kayak, and canoe boats feature full carbon/epoxy sandwich composite structures, ensuring lightweight construction, stiffness, and durability

 

Oars and paddles in contemporary usage are entirely crafted from carbon composites and designs are still evolving
5. Oars and paddles in contemporary usage are entirely crafted from carbon composites and designs are still evolving

 

Oars and paddles in contemporary usage are entirely crafted from carbon composites and designs are still evolving
6. Oars and paddles in contemporary usage are entirely crafted from carbon composites and designs are still evolving

 

The outer shell of slalom canoeing helmets is constructed using carbon fibre composites
7. The outer shell of slalom canoeing helmets is constructed using carbon fibre composites
On the road to Olympic and Paralympic Games

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