And you are 100% right in your assumption. Encapsulated wood is a timebomb
waiting to go off. Everybody knows that.
Woodden boats is a different story, wood is exposed and can go through its
natural cycle. That is why it lasts longer


"Lawrence James" wrote in message
hlink.net...
The point of my link to the article was to support my statement that
polyester resin is not water proof. You won't find that I have suggested
that foam core is a good idea. I recognize that salt water can act as a
preservative. But what I see is that many boats are built with plywood.
In
the floor and transom. Some even use encapsulated plywood for stringer
grids. Many will get wet from rain water, not sea water. Not all, but
plenty of them will evetually suffer rot in these areas. So I see nothing
good about using plywood to build fiberglass boats.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 15:58:41 GMT, "Lawrence James"
wrote:

Here's an article on blisters that explains why poly resin is not water
proof. And that is what they are encapsulating stringers and transoms
with.
They will not outlast very many of us. Take a drill to any boat over
10
years old and you'll find the stringers are wet.

http://www.marine-surveyor.com/newsletters/9803.html



Your stated article certainly does not prove your point. First of
all, according to the article, only 25% of boats will ever blister, of
those, only some will have severe blistering. The article points out
that the likelihood of blistering is predicated on quality of
construction and quantity of materials employed. Thus, cheapness in
construction is more likely evidenced by the FRP methods and
engineering.

You assumption seems to be that if wood gets wet it immediately rots.
Wrong assumption for us coastwise boaters.

Would you applaud SeaRay for construction using foam? Thin gelcoat,
thin resin, and soggy foam? This is better?

Actually, this article spells out the fact that the FRP itself is
being degraded by water..... predictable position when one considers
the source was sales material by a resin/cloth/&associated retailer.

Assuming your position is true, look at your local marina and predict
how many of the boats there are rotten and unsafe......

Oh... and I have taken a drill to my 18 year old FRP boat and it is
*not* wet..... no blisters, either.....

--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
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Rec.boats
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