The Hydrofoil Manufacturing sub-team focused on
perfecting a reliable and relatively rapid method of
manufacturing foils. A vacuum infusion closed-mold
processes was used to make the foils because such a
method has the capability of producing identical partsmultiple times with a good surface finish. MediumDensity
Fiberboard (MDF) was used for the mold
material, and two types of products were tested as a
mold coating: polyurethane and gelcoat. Gelcoat proved
to be the superior product. The foils were composed of
aluminum and foam core inserts wrapped in a carbon
fiber exterior. The manufacturing process as developed,
greatly improved upon the one used by the 2012 team