Actually, these days the choice of wood is rather unique, in fact this is the most recurring question. The choice of an expensive raw material such as wood has been meditated on for a long time. But it was also the natural, emotional and indispensable decision. So let’s see why the wooden P8, a rare choice for a unique boat.
Technical considerations and the memory effect
The wood was chosen above all for technical reasons, in order to ensure high structural rigidity of the hull during navigation. A feature that is not at all obvious in a folding boat and which distinguishes the P8 from all the other folding/demountable/inflatable boats on the market. This rigidity is ensured by the curvature of the panels generated during the opening phase of the hull. The deformation obtained, thanks to the elastic properties of the wood, is transformed into a very powerful compression action, impossible to obtain with any other material. If instead we had used fiberglass, carbon or other composites, the torsions would have caused permanent deformations with serious repercussions on the decrease in rigidity of the hull over time. For this reason the P8 is able to sail as if it were a normal non-foldable boat. Thus the absolute superiority of wood was affirmed, which with its extraordinary mechanical characteristics makes it possible to build solid, light boats with incomparable resistance to fatigue. But there is an even more important aspect: what happens to a P8 that has been kept mounted for many months? Absolutely nothing: the memory effect of wood is very powerful. In a few minutes it will be as flat as a sole, ready to be placed in its beautiful burgundy bag! what happens to a P8 that has been kept mounted for long months? Absolutely nothing: the memory effect of wood is very powerful. In a few minutes it will be as flat as a sole, ready to be placed in its beautiful burgundy bag! what happens to a P8 that has been kept mounted for long months? Absolutely nothing: the memory effect of wood is very powerful. In a few minutes it will be as flat as a sole, ready to be placed in its beautiful burgundy bag!
Security considerations
Wood is a natural buoyancy reserve. Thanks to the very low specific weight of the wooden hull (1/4 compared to fiberglass, about 0.48), the P8 is the safest boat you can sail on. This is because boats made of different materials, if broken through and with flooded watertight boxes (e.g. impact with sharp rocks), sink miserably.
aesthetic considerations
All objects built with natural materials are given a particular value and this is even more true for wood. But the highest dimension of this perception is expressed in the use of wood for boats. Lucid and alive, she vibrates and whispers softly to her crew. Sailing on a violin of the sea is a special experience. This is the emotion that we at ZenTime passionately dedicate to our customers.
Ecological considerations
Wood is the most renewable material that exists. No matter how much you try to mistreat it, ruin it, break it, it will always come back as new. Your P8 is as eternal as a phoenix. There are no weaknesses inherent in his design. No compromise in design to follow aberrant concepts of planned obsolescence. With the right care, if you give it the minimum amount of attention it needs, your P8 can regenerate itself and be handed down from generation to generation. What happens to the old fiberglass boats instead? Disposed of as special waste at a cost of around €2.5/kg, plus fixed charges and transport.
