Why This "Wooden" Sailboat Is Faster, Warmer, and Stronger - the RM 1180
Reading the Telltales on Your Sails: https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails-rigging-deckgear/reading-the-telltales-on-your-sails
The RM 1180 doesn’t fit the mold. Literally. While nearly every modern production sailboat starts life inside a giant fiberglass mold, this French performance cruiser is built in a totally different way. The hull is made using CNC-cut marine plywood that’s bonded and fully encapsulated in epoxy, forming a stiff, light and well-insulated composite structure. And the upper hull sections on the 1180 are made using molded epoxy-glass composite, giving it the dramatic hull shape and flare we associate with modern performance cruisers.
This hybrid approach allows the RM 1180 to be lighter, stiffer, more responsive under sail, and more comfortable to live aboard. The wood isn’t exposed. It isn’t varnished. It isn’t something you’re maintaining. It’s sealed inside a structural composite that offers excellent strength-to-weight and natural insulation. It also makes this boat easier to repair anywhere in the world, which is something offshore cruisers pay attention to.
But this design choice also raises questions. Why aren’t more yards doing it? Does plywood mean “cheap”? Is there a risk of rot? In this video, we break down exactly how the RM 1180 is built, why this method is different from conventional fiberglass production, and what that means for real-world cruising performance.
If you’re interested in modern yacht design, performance cruising, and alternative construction methods, this one’s worth watching.
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