Wood in new boat construction?
 

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.


s

Wood in new boat construction?
 

stealth wrote:

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.

If you have to ask ...

Rick

Wood in new boat construction?
 

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 11:41:36 -0500, stealth wrote:

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.

s

I know this sounds flip, but if you have to ask, you won't understand.
Many folks consider wood beautiful and like the feel and finish. For that
matter, why is there still so much brightwork? Mahogany lasts just fine
under paint, yet people varnish it which greatly increases maintenance.
The answer is they do it because they love the wood.

And, for the record, teak is a very low maintenance wood even with nothing
applied. I once owned a 38 foot Hubert Johnson. It was a beauty, built
out of solid woods (no plywood) lapstrake construction, monel fittings, but
we kept it painted to hold down maintenance. Today, I suppose that craft
would be made of fiberglass. Oh well...
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com

Wood in new boat construction?
 

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats?

You get different characteristics depending on the material you select. There
is no perfect, flawless, material.

It's also tough to say "wood boat" and imply sort of a one-size-fits-all
concept.
Are we talking plywood, either sheathed or stitch and glue? Traditional plank
on frame? Cold molded? Even wood boat fans will argue bitterly about the
competing merits of various wood boat technologies.

Among the reasons people choose for wooden boats:

Quieter, warmer, hull. A more "solid" sensation.

Easier for many do-it-yourselfers to build, or assist in building.

Fewer environmental concerns with construction, use, and eventual disposal (the
initial harvest of trees notwithstanding).

When a boat is a one-off custom build, it is often less expensive to use wood
than to go through the process of creating a mold for a FRP hull.

As far as wood "rotting" when it is exposed to water, it's not as simple as
that. Sal****er actually preserves wood. Freshwater, (including rainwater)
promotes
the fungi that consume wood. Properly cared for, stored under cover, a wooden
boat can last for decades before major structural repairs are required.

Finally, a wooden boat is very repairable.
When a hull fails on a glass boat, it's likely due to a condition that effects
huge areas of the vessel. Wood boat owners aren't surprised to discover they
need to replace one or two planks during a routine haulout of an older wooden
boat- and do so without a lot of drama or catastrophic expense.

After a few decades, most wood boats will need to be "refastened", with new
screws installed to hold the planks to the frames.
This is a labor intensive job that doesn't require advanced journeyman level
skills, and many wood boat owners put aside a number of weekends to accomplish
the task without hiring help.

Wood boats are renewable. Sort of like the story of George Washington's axe. It
seems that somebody found the axe that Washington used to chop down the cherry
tree.....the handle had been replaced seven times over the years and it was on
its third blade, but by golly it was still the same axe. :-)

Wood in new boat construction?
 

He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior
pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap.

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

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of
view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.

s

I know this sounds flip, but if you have to ask, you won't understand.
Many folks consider wood beautiful and like the feel and finish. For that
matter, why is there still so much brightwork? Mahogany lasts just fine
under paint, yet people varnish it which greatly increases maintenance.
The answer is they do it because they love the wood.

And, for the record, teak is a very low maintenance wood even with nothing
applied. I once owned a 38 foot Hubert Johnson. It was a beauty, built
out of solid woods (no plywood) lapstrake construction, monel fittings,
but
we kept it painted to hold down maintenance. Today, I suppose that craft
would be made of fiberglass. Oh well...
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats?

You get different characteristics depending on the material you select.
There
is no perfect, flawless, material.

It's also tough to say "wood boat" and imply sort of a one-size-fits-all
concept.
Are we talking plywood, either sheathed or stitch and glue? Traditional
plank
on frame? Cold molded? Even wood boat fans will argue bitterly about the
competing merits of various wood boat technologies.

Among the reasons people choose for wooden boats:

Quieter, warmer, hull. A more "solid" sensation.

Easier for many do-it-yourselfers to build, or assist in building.

Fewer environmental concerns with construction, use, and eventual disposal
(the
initial harvest of trees notwithstanding).

When a boat is a one-off custom build, it is often less expensive to use
wood
than to go through the process of creating a mold for a FRP hull.

As far as wood "rotting" when it is exposed to water, it's not as simple
as
that. Sal****er actually preserves wood. Freshwater, (including rainwater)
promotes
the fungi that consume wood. Properly cared for, stored under cover, a
wooden
boat can last for decades before major structural repairs are required.

Finally, a wooden boat is very repairable.
When a hull fails on a glass boat, it's likely due to a condition that
effects
huge areas of the vessel. Wood boat owners aren't surprised to discover
they
need to replace one or two planks during a routine haulout of an older
wooden
boat- and do so without a lot of drama or catastrophic expense.

After a few decades, most wood boats will need to be "refastened", with
new
screws installed to hold the planks to the frames.
This is a labor intensive job that doesn't require advanced journeyman
level
skills, and many wood boat owners put aside a number of weekends to
accomplish
the task without hiring help.

Wood boats are renewable. Sort of like the story of George Washington's
axe. It
seems that somebody found the axe that Washington used to chop down the
cherry
tree.....the handle had been replaced seven times over the years and it
was on
its third blade, but by golly it was still the same axe. :-)





I think the question is not why wooden boats, but why is wood still used in
GRP boats. Wood is one of the stronger materials for weight and does not
break like a lot of material under small flexing. Can be cheaper, and as
long as fresh water does not get to the wood, it lasts very well.
Bill

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"Rick" wrote in message
hlink.net...
stealth wrote:

With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of
view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.

If you have to ask ...

Rick


He did ask! What is your answer? Why is wood used in modern boats made
with fiberglass?

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Cheap is the operative word. As to water not getting to it? It will spend
some portion of it's life sitting in water and probably most of it's life
outside. Properly laid up fiberglass would outlive a lot of us, the plywood
in the floor and transom will be long gone.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
link.net...

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats?

You get different characteristics depending on the material you select.
There
is no perfect, flawless, material.

It's also tough to say "wood boat" and imply sort of a one-size-fits-all
concept.
Are we talking plywood, either sheathed or stitch and glue? Traditional
plank
on frame? Cold molded? Even wood boat fans will argue bitterly about the
competing merits of various wood boat technologies.

Among the reasons people choose for wooden boats:

Quieter, warmer, hull. A more "solid" sensation.

Easier for many do-it-yourselfers to build, or assist in building.

Fewer environmental concerns with construction, use, and eventual
disposal
(the
initial harvest of trees notwithstanding).

When a boat is a one-off custom build, it is often less expensive to use
wood
than to go through the process of creating a mold for a FRP hull.

As far as wood "rotting" when it is exposed to water, it's not as simple
as
that. Sal****er actually preserves wood. Freshwater, (including
rainwater)
promotes
the fungi that consume wood. Properly cared for, stored under cover, a
wooden
boat can last for decades before major structural repairs are required.

Finally, a wooden boat is very repairable.
When a hull fails on a glass boat, it's likely due to a condition that
effects
huge areas of the vessel. Wood boat owners aren't surprised to discover
they
need to replace one or two planks during a routine haulout of an older
wooden
boat- and do so without a lot of drama or catastrophic expense.

After a few decades, most wood boats will need to be "refastened", with
new
screws installed to hold the planks to the frames.
This is a labor intensive job that doesn't require advanced journeyman
level
skills, and many wood boat owners put aside a number of weekends to
accomplish
the task without hiring help.

Wood boats are renewable. Sort of like the story of George Washington's
axe. It
seems that somebody found the axe that Washington used to chop down the
cherry
tree.....the handle had been replaced seven times over the years and it
was on
its third blade, but by golly it was still the same axe. :-)





I think the question is not why wooden boats, but why is wood still used
in
GRP boats. Wood is one of the stronger materials for weight and does not
break like a lot of material under small flexing. Can be cheaper, and as
long as fresh water does not get to the wood, it lasts very well.
Bill

Wood in new boat construction?
 

He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior
pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap.



Cheaper. Lighter. More easily fabricated.
Can be the best choice in certain applications regardless of cost savings., but
in most cases it is a matter of building a boat that the public can afford to
buy.

Like our cars, homes, and other possessions- every manufacturer knows of ways
to make any product "better", but if the difference ultimately results in a
near-perfect product that 1 or 2 percent of the population could ever
contemplate affording or an extremely serviceable product available to a far
greater number of folks, there are a number of factors to consider.

The good news is, buyers who want a boat built without a sliver of wood in the
hull can find them. In some cases, they will be more expensive. In others,
(such as welded aluminum), they will not be more expensive but may have other
issues to deal with beyond potential wood rot.

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Actually, expensive boats use wood in structural members, where cost is not
the object. A 100% fiberglass transom, would probably be a lot thicker than
a cored transom, to get the same ability to handle the stress from a motor.
The non-wood transoms, such as a Davis Rock Harbor are still cored with
another material.
Bill

"Lawrence James" wrote in message
link.net...
Cheap is the operative word. As to water not getting to it? It will
spend
some portion of it's life sitting in water and probably most of it's life
outside. Properly laid up fiberglass would outlive a lot of us, the
plywood
in the floor and transom will be long gone.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
link.net...

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats?

You get different characteristics depending on the material you
select.
There
is no perfect, flawless, material.

It's also tough to say "wood boat" and imply sort of a
one-size-fits-all
concept.
Are we talking plywood, either sheathed or stitch and glue?
Traditional
plank
on frame? Cold molded? Even wood boat fans will argue bitterly about
the
competing merits of various wood boat technologies.

Among the reasons people choose for wooden boats:

Quieter, warmer, hull. A more "solid" sensation.

Easier for many do-it-yourselfers to build, or assist in building.

Fewer environmental concerns with construction, use, and eventual
disposal
(the
initial harvest of trees notwithstanding).

When a boat is a one-off custom build, it is often less expensive to
use
wood
than to go through the process of creating a mold for a FRP hull.

As far as wood "rotting" when it is exposed to water, it's not as
simple
as
that. Sal****er actually preserves wood. Freshwater, (including
rainwater)
promotes
the fungi that consume wood. Properly cared for, stored under cover, a
wooden
boat can last for decades before major structural repairs are
required.

Finally, a wooden boat is very repairable.
When a hull fails on a glass boat, it's likely due to a condition that
effects
huge areas of the vessel. Wood boat owners aren't surprised to
discover
they
need to replace one or two planks during a routine haulout of an older
wooden
boat- and do so without a lot of drama or catastrophic expense.

After a few decades, most wood boats will need to be "refastened",
with
new
screws installed to hold the planks to the frames.
This is a labor intensive job that doesn't require advanced journeyman
level
skills, and many wood boat owners put aside a number of weekends to
accomplish
the task without hiring help.

Wood boats are renewable. Sort of like the story of George
Washington's
axe. It
seems that somebody found the axe that Washington used to chop down
the
cherry
tree.....the handle had been replaced seven times over the years and
it
was on
its third blade, but by golly it was still the same axe. :-)





I think the question is not why wooden boats, but why is wood still used
in
GRP boats. Wood is one of the stronger materials for weight and does
not
break like a lot of material under small flexing. Can be cheaper, and
as
long as fresh water does not get to the wood, it lasts very well.
Bill

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"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

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Calif Bill wrote:

He did ask! What is your answer? Why is wood used in modern boats made
with fiberglass?

And Larry answered very well. There isn't much need to supplement his
response except maybe to ask why, with such good digital and film
photography available, anyone would consider creating or purchasing a
painting.

Rick

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 18:24:15 GMT, "Lawrence James"
wrote:

Cheap is the operative word. As to water not getting to it? It will
spend
some portion of it's life sitting in water and probably most of it's life
outside. Properly laid up fiberglass would outlive a lot of us, the
plywood
in the floor and transom will be long gone.



Not necessarily. Some manufacturers have tried encapsulating other
products.... with mixed success. Boats are made of *something*
laminated on both sides because it gives strength and rigidity... not
unlike case hardened steel. A solid fiberglass boat would just be too
heavy. There is a company near Raleigh, NC making rotomolded boats if
you want to boat in a milk bottle. I guess that wouldn't rot, but
somehow, that doesn't appeal to me as much as wood, which if properly
encapsulated, will outlast both of us....

--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time Pictures
at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide




Do not knock rotomolded. My Ocean Kayak as well as most other yaks are
rotomolded. Makes a nice boat. Other than my canoe, do not own any glass
boats. Couple of aluminum.
Bill

Wood in new boat construction?
 

I should have been more specific given some of the juvenile responses

You got that right! I've had the same thought considering the amount of
wood (structural, not decorative) I've found in my 3 year old "fiberglass"
boat.
Seems there's always a flamer hiding in the weeds.

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Lawrence James wrote:
He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and interior
pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap.


And wood in general is strong. Properly installed wood substructure
(encapsolated stringers etc) will last a good long time. The problem of
course is if water does get under the encapsolation.

My stringers are pressure treated fur that is encapsolated. Time will
tell how it will last in the long run. Much will depend on how I care
for the boat. But I do not fear it will fail any time soon. One might
guess that a poorly made fibreglass stringer system may develope cracks
over time. I am sure one properly built will last a lifetime. As will a
well built substructure made of wood.

Capt Jack R..

Wood in new boat construction?
 

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
...

"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

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Encapsulated in poly resin, not epoxy, right? I suggest you do some
research on the water permeability of various resins and you'll discover
that your stringers will eventually get wet.

"Jack Redington" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Lawrence James wrote:
He might be asking about the use of wood in fiberglass boats, rather
than
wood boats. Commonly the use of plywood for floors, transoms, and
interior
pieces. As to the why, it's because plywood is cheap.


And wood in general is strong. Properly installed wood substructure
(encapsolated stringers etc) will last a good long time. The problem of
course is if water does get under the encapsolation.

My stringers are pressure treated fur that is encapsolated. Time will
tell how it will last in the long run. Much will depend on how I care
for the boat. But I do not fear it will fail any time soon. One might
guess that a poorly made fibreglass stringer system may develope cracks
over time. I am sure one properly built will last a lifetime. As will a
well built substructure made of wood.

Capt Jack R..

Wood in new boat construction?
 

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
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time
Pictures
at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Steel, aluminum and composites plus better designs, in short (let's not
forget fiberglass... he he).


"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 19:37:05 GMT, "Lawrence James"
wrote:

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.


Ok... I'll bite.... what is the panacea for boat building?

--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time Pictures
at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 23:53:40 GMT, "Proxy"
wrote:

Steel, aluminum and composites plus better designs, in short (let's not
forget fiberglass... he he).


Steel = Rust
Aluminum = Corrosion

Fiberglass = a composite? = lots of weight

Encapsulated steel will last you forever (Eiffel Tower still standing by the
way, so is The Empire State Building).
Aluminum corrosion is not a factor as it also protects (unlike rust).
Imagine steel frame inside the composite stringers (0 rust due to 100%
adhesion steel-resin(versus 0% adhesion of rotten,moist wood-resin), hey
that is used in a car repair remember?). Composite deck reinforced with
steel net. Weight loss maybe 30-40 kG. No mold, mildew. 0 maintenance. You
get a solid boat and at a cost of additional 1000$ (about 3% of a new boat
price, considering most popular 20 foot bowrider as a benchmark). Tell me
what is wrong with that picture? Maybe I'm dreaming but that IS possible and
could be a reality. How do I know? I replaced rotten stringers with
composite ones in my boat (my project and construction) last summer. Cost
200$.




--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time Pictures
at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"Lawrence James" wrote in message thlink.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.
================================================== =========

The reason for using wood is to add stiffness to the structure without
adding excessive weight. Wood is much stiffer than fibreglass and
weighs less than half as much. The trick is to use the very best
quality plywood and to make sure that it is well encapsulated. Good
quality marine plywood can withstand years of a high moisture
environment without deterioration of any kind. The problems arise
when builders cut corners by using ordinary construction grade ply.
Unfortunately that's a common practice at the low end.

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Sorry, I don't have a panacea. When I replaced my plywood grid stringers I
used 5/4" composite desk boards on edge. I liked them, but they were heavy.
Subjectivly it seemed they had a little more flex that an equal piece of
wood but I layed them in with epoxy and glass cloth so I think they ended up
rigid enough. Encapsulating foam clearly sucks. I have heard that a few
companies are using vertical pieces of fiberglass alone as stringers.
Transom has to be something besides just fiberglass though or it will be too
heavy. I don't think metals are the answer because I suspect there would be
adhesion problems. Not sure about that starboard stuff, perhaps that would
be a good transom material. I'm only certain about one thing and that is
there has to be something better than plywood.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 19:37:05 GMT, "Lawrence James"
wrote:

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.


Ok... I'll bite.... what is the panacea for boat building?

--



Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/cavern/
Homepage
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp Where
Southport,NC is located.
http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm Real Time Pictures
at My Marina
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats
at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

Wood in new boat construction?
 

"stealth" wrote in message
...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders
still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of
view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.


There are several reasons, and various arguments for and against them.

Consider the wood used in four different applications:

Structural: provides the basic strength of the hull, includes stringers,
ribs, beams, etc.

Fill: The interior of the deck, transom, sides, and bottom.

Backing: wood is commonly epoxied onto the back of the fiberglass so that
windows, deck plates, etc. can be fastened down with wood screws.

Appearance: usually teak, mahogany, etc. used in places it looks nice.


If it wasn't for the rotting issue, wood would be an ideal material. It is
flexible, relatively light weight and easy to work with. If you decide you
need to mount something at spot "A" you simply drill a hole there, apply
some sealer and mount your something with a wood screw.

The Flexibility of wood is a major issue for structural members. You can
take a boat with wood stringers and give it quite a beating without any
significant degradation. Replace those stringers with metal and you could
have all sorts of problems. Metal fatigue can lead to stress cracks and
complete failure. The fiberglass, which is flexible, may start to tear when
it is beat against the far less flexible beams.

For large areas, such as transoms, it is hard to beat the strength to weight
ratio of wood. Again, flexibility is a desired feature. You can't use a
material that might fracture.

There are boats being made that don't use any wood at all. Only time will
tell if they consistently provide more years of service or not.

Rod McInnis

Wood in new boat construction?
 

Try KeyWestBoats Their motto is No Wood, No Rot


"stealth" wrote in message ...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.


s

Wood in new boat construction?
 

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 06:14:34 +0000, Tom K wrote:

Try KeyWestBoats Their motto is No Wood, No Rot


"stealth" wrote in message ...
With today's technology and available materials, why do boat builders still
use wood in the construction of their boats? From a layman's point of view,
it seems ludicrous to do so given that wood rots when exposed to water.


Wood CAN rot when exposed to water, but there are lots of wooden boats
that are 40-50 years old still floating out there (a lot of Canada's West
Coast fishing fleet are wooden - mainly Yellow Cedar).

Also, when encapulated and used basically as "filler", it can last for
decades if done correctly.

So, as others have said, wood remains one of the best materials to
build boats with.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36: 20 yrs old, no rot in the wooden stringers.

Wood in new boat construction?
 

On 1/6/2004 1:36 PM, Lloyd Sumpter wrote:

Wood CAN rot when exposed to water, but there are lots of wooden boats
that are 40-50 years old still floating out there (a lot of Canada's West
Coast fishing fleet are wooden - mainly Yellow Cedar).


You could probably count the total number of months my dad's Chris-Craft
has been *out* of the water on two hands, and she'll be 62 this year.

'Course, they used *real* woods like Indian mahogany back then, none of
this low-grade processed crud... :)

--
~/Garth