Joined: 9/22/2009
Posts: 1
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I wanted to share an experience I had with DIAB foam and their processes:
I am an old boat builder in China at present.
I was called and asked to survey a non complete sailing vessel in China. The vessel is a 50' catamaran. The process used for construction was and is infusion.
Please look at the pictures posted and you will noticed many areas of dry-glass indicating a failed infusion.
The builder has given permission to use the pictures. The builder contracted DIAB to come and give training and instruct workers on the infusion process. DIAB set up and ran this class and actually did the infusion on this deck (noted in the pictures).
The builder contacted me as they were apprehensive as to the end product. According to DIAB this is a easy fix. When I contacted them ask for help no call back from them. I had the gel-coat sanded off most of the deck and that is when you see most of the problem.
Has anyone had similar experiences?
File Attachment(s):
 Winfair%20deck%20Diab%20Training-9.jpg (76520 bytes)
Winfair%20deck%2050%20Diab%20Training-7.jpg (15633 bytes)
Winfair%2050%20deck%20Diab%20Training-5.jpg (26883 bytes)
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An update for everyone:
A few weeks ago, a manager, Benny (he called from his cell phone), at DIAB’s Asian offices called us to inform us that one of the bosses from Sweden was going to come to China to meet with us to resolve the mess that they created. It is fortunate for us that we did not believe them. It turns out that this was, indeed, another deceitful tactic from DIAB to try to get out of the agreement that they signed to a Chinese company by stalling us. It has seemed rather obvious to us for some time that DIAB believes that a Chinese company must be run by idiots who cannot see what DIAB is doing. We have spoken with other individuals and have heard the same thing about western suppliers: that the suppliers have an attitude toward them because they are Chinese. We refuse to simply lie down and take this kind of behaviour.
We would greatly appreciate if anyone who has had any similar experiences would let us know.
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I have just had an infusion done on my 42' powercat by the DIAB "experts" & it has turned out a complete disaster! I used DIAB foam & CNC cut kits, used "Polyworx", had my workers do the DIAB training course, & had the local DIAB team themselves do the glass lay-up & infusion.
The result is tens of thousands of dollars in repairs to fill & fair & paint the hull & deck. There is print-through of the fibreglass cloth on 100% of the hull & deck, & large "suck-ins" all along the chines, knuck;es, sheers, stems, windows, etc., in fact at every foam edge.
There's no problem with the foam - it's actually great to use & easy to work with. I've infused all my bulkheads, hull longitudinals, tanks & floors & never had a problem.
I was totally sold on the infusion process until all this happened. I still think it is the way to build boats, but obviously there are major obstacles to overcome first.
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