Boz
Well-Known Member
Sad to see the passing of Ed Dubois, as he designed our boat (Westerly Corsair) that gives us so much pleasure (and work)..... Loads of my contemporaries gone this year and last.... all I can do is keep taking the Tablets 
The early GRP boats were over engineered by today's standards as they weren't sure how it would stand the test of time. That and boats that are designed on paper from the designers minds was a winning combination and why they are still around and loved today and always will be. They are almost indestructible.
Sorry, but that's incorrect. The old boats weren't really engineered at all, they were rather randomly laid up by little men wandering around with buckets of resin. If you compare the hull weights of current boats - which really are engineered - you'll find they're very similar. But, importantly, modern boats use very carefully calculated glass reinforcement, to maximise hull strength.
Not sure this particular relevant in the context of the OP, which was about the passing of a fine designer that has given pleasure to many Yachtsmen from the 70s 'til the present day, me included........