A Two-Way Spinoff

Gougeon Brothers, Inc. successfully applied their boat building expertise to a NASA problem in wind turbine development. NASA and the department of Energy began experimenting with large wind turbine machines as an energy alternative to fossil fuels. During the development of a first generation wind turbine generator known as MOD-OA, Lewis Research Center faced the problem of supersize rotor blades made of metal that kept failing under stress. Using the techniques they had developed for fabricating wood composite structures, the Gougeon Brothers went on to build several sets of blades for the MOD-OA system; all worked successfully. Gougeon Brothers acquired new know-how during the course of studying rotor blade aerodynamics which they applied to their boat building. They developed the innovative "aerodynamic mast" for sailboats. Their mast, a strong, lightweight wood composite which needs no supporting rigging and is free to rotate with the wind, could cut a ship's fuel cost by as much as 40 percent.