Hello Everyone 
 
I have just today purchased a Ghost Rider (sail No 2980, all carbon rig) and currently half way through refurbishing the hull on my NSM2.  Having worked as a mold maker in the long distant past I often work with modern composite materials and as such I am wondering to what extent you can use Carbon fibre in a Merlin hull?
 
To be specific I was thinking it would be rather cool to skin the the whole deck of the merlin in carbon, is this outside the rules? or ok?  other areas like the transom or thwart etc?  I have a very cursory glance at the rules but I am some what non the wiser as to whether you can or cannot use it?
 
can anyone enlighten this eager halfwit? 
 
Kind regards Doug  

Deck- Ok
Thwart - OK
Transom - No
Planking - No 

What about support for athwartships jib car leads?

If it's a hull fitting you are ok.

What about the centreboard case?

Centreboard case OK

So basically you cannot carbon the outer shell of the hull, Does the mast deck support count as hull or as a Carbonable fitting?
 
 

mast deck support OK

Basically hull shell- No Carbon

Hi Doug,
The above advice is not quite correct,
The rules ban carbon in planking, stem, transom, hog, bilge keels and centreboard case sides.  Anywhere else it's OK.
There is no restriction on reinforcing wooden shells with glass mat but again not carbon.  
If repairing or modifying one of the old boats, don't forget to have the boat checked and signed off by a Class measurer when the work is finished.
Good luck with your project. 
Dan Alsop MR 3539 

So Dan if you have a wood boat and carbon deck I take it the deck finishes on the out side of the gunnel  like a Winder moulded boat ? 
Q2 So if you  remove the gunwale forward of the shroud can you land the carbon deck on the top say 20 mm of the top  plank ?  and if not will a 1 mm veneer of wood laid on the top plank first then the carbon deck edge satisfy ?

So Dan if you have a wood boat and carbon deck I take it the deck finishes on the out side of the gunnel  like a Winder moulded boat ? 
Q2 So if you  remove the gunwale forward of the shroud can you land the carbon deck on the top say 20 mm of the top  plank ?  and if not will a 1 mm veneer of wood laid on the top plank first then the carbon deck edge satisfy ?

Hi John,
 
Having looked at the ISAF rules - 
 
Rule D5 covers the Gunwhales. There is no requirement to fit a gunwhale/rubbing strake assembly and there is no minimum size for the assembly if fitted. Materials for the Gunwhale assembly are not restricted.
 
So i'd say that as long as you comply with rule D5 with your carbon wrap you'll be OK.