I have always lusted after a HR, but at the back of my mind there was always a nagging suspicion that they weren't what the hype said they were. This was fostered by a feeling that "you get what we give you" type of attitude that seemed to permeate the company's attitude. For instance you can not buy an HR without a
teak deck. Its a kind of we know what is best for you type of attitude. That is the builder's choice but just seemed to me to be a closed attitude.
If those
core samples shown above are really from an HR
hull, then I would never own one of their boats. They are clearly way to resin rich/glass starved to have the strength that they should have. The glass would be brittle and have little strength.
I don't believe the
core should ever delaminate like the photo's show. I believe that is not a sign of
overheating when drilled out but of a poorly bonded laminate.
If one of the HR partners had actually said "all hulls are wet, go sailing", then that would be another reason that I would never own one. That would show that they have accepted an inferior form of skin/core bonding and is an indication of poor build quality.
Something bothers me about the testimony on this thread. Didn't one of the transcripts state that representatives of HR tested the
hull? Then there are statements that HR was not allowed access to the
boat. Something that should be clarified.
But, its highly unlikely that I would ever be able to be a HR customer anyway, I'm sure my observations won't bother the
builder.