Composite versus stainless steel: the showdown

Water-cooled superyacht exhaust systems come in a range of different materials. As far as MarQuip is concerned, however, the right way to make them is in GRP – as you can see from the list of pros and cons of GRP versus stainless steel below, the material’s benefits certainly outweigh any downside:

Pros:
– Lightweight – one-third of the weight of steel
– No corrosion issues
– Long lifespan – over 15 years
– Young’s modulus is 1/15 of that of steel, resulting in excellent resistance to noise and vibrations
– No deformation from welding heat
– No stress or weakness during fabrication
– No galvanic effects
– Easy to connect without welding
– Easy to install
– Easy to adjust
– No conservation needed

Cons:
– Not suited for temperatures above 130°C
– More expensive than steel
– Requires special attention in terms of strength and pulsations
– Requires special attentions during Class approval (classification societies are still very conservative when it comes to GRP)

With more than 15 years of experience working with composite, we have seen no chloride corrosion due to saltwater, for instance, or any issues of that type. The combination of light weight and ease of fitting without any hot working makes us very confident that GRP is the ideal material for your exhaust system.

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