Fiber glass is a very versatile element that is frequently used as an insulating material, and also to reinforce polymer products, which results in a composite called fiber reinforced polymer, or glass reinforced plastic. Many people may not be aware of the following fact, but this product is very much used in the construction of marine related objects, such as surfboards, boat hulls and personal watercrafts.
Surfboards are extended platforms used in the recreational and competitive activity known as surfing. They were originally made with wood from trees found in Hawaii, where they were invented. Currently however, fiber glass is prominently used in their construction, allowing them to be light enough to be maneuverable, but strong enough to support the weight of the surfer.
A hull is the waterproof part of a boat, which supports the superstructure, or the upward extension of a ship. Composite hulls are made by placing fiber reinforced layers over a lightweight yet rigid core of foam, balsa wood and other materials.
Personal watercrafts may be seen as a combination of surfboards and boats, since they usually carry only one passenger (although some models support two or three) who stands on the craft, as opposed to in it. Unlike a surfboard though, they have a motor that propels them at varying speeds. From the very beginning they were made with fiber glass, a custom that remains to this very day.