Plastic Mooring Buoys. Part II. Completion of Test Program.
Abstract
Two plastic mooring buoys, fabricated by a private contractor, were described in Part I of this study program. Each buoy had a steel framework filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam. On one buoy this foamed core was covered with an exterior shell of fiberglass cloth impregnated with polyester resin; on the other, the exterior shell was a sprayed-on coating of chopped fiberglass strands in polyester resin. This report, Part II, describes the 3-year in-service testing of these buoys in San Diego Bay. While both performed well, the hand lay-up buoy had much less deterioration than the spray-up buoy. Also, it was determined that plastic buoys have much lower maintenance costs than steel mooring buoys. An improved plastic mooring buoy was designed from the results of the testing program. This design utilizes hand lay-up construction of the outer shell with alternate layers of random chopped-glass mat and woven roving. Such a buoy was fabricated and is currently serving the Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0845132
Entities
People
- Richard W. Drisko
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center