I would say that there is some truth to all of the above comments,
however there seems to be one fact missing here. When building a
cored boat one has to use construction methods that are appropriate
for this type of laminate schedule. If you look at core failures, be
it delamination or water absorbtion, the most common link is poor
construction quality and misapplied use of the technology. There is
nothing wrong with Balsa, Airex, Core Cell, Divinicell, Nomex etc, so
long as the designers and builders are careful to use thes
technologies properly. Not coring in way of the keel or heavily
loaded deck structures is one good, easy to spot for the average
consumer, misuse of cores. Make sure that the cored hull was AT LEAST
vacum bagged. DO NOT purchase a cored hull that was laid up by hand
without vacum bagging, plain and simple. These days Scrimp and other
resin infusion technologies make trusting a cored hull far easier.
The structural/weight advantages of using a cored hull are quite
dramatic, so one should not be scared into thinking that they are
unreliable...this is quie simply false. The comment about about
hiring a good surveyor is right on. Even then though, keeping what I
have said in mind can go a long way despite having a surveyor....the
vacum bagging for example. Even if the surveyor finds the hull
essentially sound, I would err on the side of safety and insist that
the hull you purchase was vacum bagged or resin-infused. Certainly
these days a surveyor can go a lot further with non-invasive laminate
testing, but ultimately the one buying the bboat should educate
him/herself as much as possible. Also, the moisture meter comment is
right on too. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. One
caveat, make sure the boat you are testing has been out of the water
for some time before you go sticking the meter into the hull. You'll
get misleading results if you try using it on a boat that has just
been pulled from the water (I've seen unscrupulous brokers/ yard
people trying to lure potential buyers of one boat to antother using
this technique).
-Eli





(hankh) wrote in message . com...
Look carefully at the construction. There is a world of difference in
how the cores are used. I am no fan of balsa. Won't use it anymore,
but in some cases it is adequate.
Hard to beat an experienced surveyor when buying a used boat.