Reading the posts feels so hopeless. So few do know what you're talking
about.
My boat sank 2 years ago. After removing the floor last year I discovered
that wood is almost gone. Now I wish that someone on the production line has
asked himself the question you are asking. In the era of composites I can't
believe we are talking about wood.
Strong? How long? Until the first crack. Durable? Yeah right. I've had
several boats and I know for a fact that wood is not a good material for
fiberglass boat. It has good properties when new, out of production line.
That's all. Feels solid. Yes, unless you encounter waves sweeping your deck.
Then the quiet process of rotting starts. And without your permission.
Exposed wood has a better chance to survive then the encapsulated one.
Moisture has nowhere to go but deeper inside... You have to be a complete
ignorant and moron not to know that.
Let's face it. Wood sucks big time. I would trade it anytime for composite
stringers or aluminum for that matter. Forget about leakproof laminating,
ask any boat repair shop what do they see if they have to fix a damage. They
are leakproof until first contact with water.
It is ridiculous that we can manufacture composite deck boards carrying
"guranteed forever" mark yet boats are still made with wood.
The only rationale is that manuf. know that well and they have no interest
in selling you the boat that will last you forever. That why there is no
"forever" car as well. The only positive element in this picture is that
stringers actually do not need wood after full cure. They take the load and
wood inside is a good addition but not 100% necessary. That's why many
rotten boats are OK to ride until you try to fix them up. Boat rigidity
stays the same because of the fiberglass around wodden stringers. That's
all. Ask experts. And if you don't know any better, do not post unnecessary
flame.


"stealth" wrote in message
news

"Larry" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:41:36 -0500, stealth wrote:


I should have been more specific given some of the juvenile responses. I
was
speaking of the wood that is used in the structural coring, not the
aesthetic cabinetry/flooring. Wrapping fiberglass around wood that could
be
subject to seepage/leakage/rot may have been the best way twenty-five
years
ago, but with the low-cost composite type materials available on the
market
today, using wood in lieu of these composites doesn't make sense from a
layman point of view. And given the amount of surveys that show wood rot
in
coring areas, it would seem that not using wood would be a huge marketing
tool for the boat builder. As for the cost advantage, perhaps some of you
haven't seen the price of plywood lately! That said, if you wise guys
didn't
know the answer, all you had to do was just say so?



s