Olympic Games 1996

Interview with Larry Abbott

Builders of the U.S. Soling.
Interviewed by David McCreary

DM: What other boats do you build besides the Soling at your factory?
LA: We build Finns in an agreement with Lemieux known as Lemieux Finns. My brother and I are partners, he's down in Savannah, I'm stuck up here in the factory working.

DM: Have you built boats for an Olympic regatta before?
LA: Yes, we built Finns for the Olympics when they were in Canada in 1976 in Montreal.

DM:When did you first hear that there was a problem with Madrigali's Soling?
LA: Monday night.

DM: What parameters did they tell you it was suspect in?
LA: The Soling class uses an ultrasound device to test thickness of the hulls in various places. People want light ends and to have the weight centered. The Soling class is very specific in its laminate structure, and that is what made the boat questionable.

DM: Define laminate as you use it in the context of building a Soling.
LA: The Boat is constructed of 1oz. per sq. yard mat ( a fiber glass that has to be a certain weight/square yard), 1.5 ozper sq. yard mat, and 24 oz. roving (fiber glass in which crosses itself at 90 degree angles and is woven in and out of each other similar to a screen) materials. Each boat must have these materials in layers throughout the boat.

DM: So when the ultrasound came through they thought it was suspect because they thought there may not have been enough layers in the bow and the stern, so they took a core sample from the bow, is that correct?
LA: Correct.

DM: Have you heard back officially or unofficially what the lab reports started? They must have stated that everything was fine.
LA: Yes I was not concerned, I personally build these boats. I was of no concern as to the drilling of the hull. The only possibilty was that the hull been changed after it left our factory to lighten the boat.

DM: How will they fix the whole from the core sample?
LA: That will be a quick patch done mostly from the inside.

DM: The Ultrasound test showed the thickness of the boat in the bow to be very close to the minimum allowed. Since lightness in the bow area is what you're striving for, this must mean that you guys hit it VERY close to the minimums, in other words, did it perfectly.
LA: Yes we are very happy with it, It has been our goal to get the boat as light as possible.

DM: Thanks for your time. You can reach Abbot Boats at: Abbot Boats Limited
1458 London Road
Sarnia Ontario
N7S 1P7
Tel 519 - 542 - 3011
Fax 519 - 542 - 2324