Fibreglass (GRP)
The default since the 1970s, and for good reason
Glass-reinforced plastic is glass fibre laid up in polyester, vinylester or epoxy resin. Most production sailboats are built this way. It is strong and fairly low-maintenance, and almost any boatyard in the world can repair it.
Strengths
- Repairable almost anywhere
- Low routine maintenance
- Largest used market, easy to resell
- Moulded shapes make roomy interiors
Weaknesses
- Older hulls can suffer osmosis blistering
- Heavier than carbon or wood-epoxy
- Cored decks rot if water gets in
Ratings
4
4
7
5
9
9
Buying used: what to check
Ask for moisture-meter readings on the hull below the waterline and on any cored deck. Look for blisters, wet core around deck fittings and stress cracks at the keel joint.