Lucas Industries has provided a wide variety of tooling and specialized products to customers in the marine applications field. Molds for parts such as keel structures on America's Cup vessels, composite strakes made by resin transfer molding, actuator fins for towed bodies, carbon kayak paddle molds and CNC machined fiberglass fairings have all been produced at Lucas. This technical area is receiving vastly expanded attention as the benefits of non-corroding composite materials become more widely known and understood in the industry. Weight reduction in shipboard structures located above the waterline is a major new driver in the application of composite materials on naval vessels. Ship center of gravity changes have shown that excessive weight in tall steel superstructures causes significant negative effects in ship stability and maneuverability. Consequently, rudders, antenna masts and entire deckhouses are being constructed from lighter composite panels to regain balance and maintain control margins on next generation ships. These composite structures also provide benefits in the vastly more complex electronic environment by reducing radar signature returns and improving antenna performance. Here are some photos of our recent Marine projects: