[htwoopup]

I only used the guys at Falcon because I wanted to support some kids who had started up a business rather than using anyone of the other fabricator/ manufacturers around the world doing this tech or any other kids starting up a business in manufacturing in any other of the three countries that I live in.

I first remember using an interesting custom weave with the wax method (as opposed to the previously used balloon that was pressurized) on a boat that we sailed in the Transpac race in the late 90’s. That had various components done this way. Spreaders, the boom, the wheel. Interestingly, the boom was a weave of kevlar and carbon and also interestingly the boat was constructed in Germany by Thyssen. It was engineered/ designed probably in 92 or 3. Another fabricator doing this tech was American when I had a manufacturer in the late 80s in Tennessee (memory says Kingsport) build a 20 foot tender. The hull and decks were flat kevlar mat but the stringers were carbon woven in a simple weave on the machine for the engineered needs individually (since each one was different for engineering reasons) and then the wax method.

As Nic said, it really doesn’t matter who was first. The point is the tech works and has worked in many applications for many years. Boyd will surely make fabulous wheels just like the predecessor company did.

I am done with this convo. I just got off an 80 mile glorious ride on the Spectrum (which has, horrors, Enve wheels). I suggest you step away from the keyboard and get outside and enjoy life on a cycle.