Pierre and Roger follow their 2 boys, who are now competing in Moth Europe dinghy regattas. One afternoon in August 2022, the two fathers sketched out a plan to build a less impactful, more eco-responsible Europe.
Linen fiber and recyclable resin
Pierre, who has expertise in composite materials, suggests we study a flax fiber construction with recyclable resin. The only thing missing was a mold. Roger called on his network and asked Jean-Christian Michel, manager of Erplast, to sell him his mold. But Erplast went one better, and simply offered to make the mold available to them.
Erplast, a major ally
For Erplast, flax construction speaks for itself. This dinghy builder has launched the Optiflax, a linen Optimist waiting to be accepted by the rules. This Moth Europe project also relies heavily on measurement. If the mold is gauged, the gauge text indicates that Europe can be produced in wood or fiberglass, but not in flax fiber...
A structured project with a Saint-Nazaire high school
To embark on this adventure, the two Papas put together a structured project. Not wanting to embark on an adventure at the back of a garage, not being builders and no doubt a bit perfectionist, they set up a partnership with the Lycée Aristide Briand in Saint-Nazaire. Six students at the end of their BTS shipbuilding studies will produce the hull for 3 of them, and the deck for the other 3. This will be their final project. The aim is to present the finished boat at the National de Printemps, at the end of April 2024 in Alsace.
Two prototypes planned
The first prototype will be built with linen grown and woven in France, and infused with biosourced resin. This choice of resin is dictated by the tight timing, but a second example is already planned with 100% recyclable resin. For the moment, there's no question of series production, but of producing 2 boats - the 2 dads are financing everything - to show young people that it's possible to do it, when you have the determination.
Today, the students have completed the 3D modeling and built samples to validate strength and rigidity. Production of the first hull should arrive shortly. The students have been asked to produce a construction booklet, with samples for future construction.
A name for the project
The 2 dads are well aware that they're not offering a perfect solution in ecological terms, but above all they want to show that things can be done locally. What's more, the intergenerational partnership seems to be taking off, as the 6 students have already given their project a name: Hop'Lin
