On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:21:58 -0700, "Lew Hodgett"
wrote stuff
and I replied:

This is going to be a large, say 12x12 rigid dinghy that will support
a solar panel farm.

Wood is heavy, wood will rot, and wood is weak when compared to a foam
core complete with knitted glass and epoxy skins.

Canoes and Kayakers will disagree. I had this discussion with one of
the SNGlue/Strip kayakers, and they were very strong about wood vs
foam....either snglue or strip.

However, I have to admit that if the result is stiffness, noit inpact
strength, then fioam wins at a given weight.



The above structure would add a lot of weight high above the water
line if made of wood.

But not if made of wood (strip or sng ply) with the same skins or less
(agaon local impact strength)

Just for reference, a 4x8x1/2 sheet of plywood weighs about 42#, while
a 4x8x3/4 sheet of Divinycell weighs about 16#-17#.

For this purpose you need quite thin ply...1/4 or 3/8, and then less
glass or WHY because it's better for puncture.

Moot point. Just presenting the other POV. In my time I have tried
both, and find it hard to really fight one way or the other.


Lew


Human bevaviour: Bestiality with a brain