FIGURE 10-6

Typical cored hull layup.

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This is most often used as a stiffener in deck lami- size and may range from 'A inch to I inch. Ver}' large

nates, but it is also used in hulls, usually racing hulls, hulls may have two layers of coring with a thin layer

where stiffness and light weight are pnme considera- of fiberglass between to bond the cores together.

tions. There has been concern that the balsa core can A few boats have been built with a wood core,

rot if water gets to it through a crack in the outer usually a strip-planked hull with no framing and
laminate. However, the small squares of wood are fairly thin planking. The FRP covenng, both inside

separated from each other by resin if the work is and out, protects the wood core and provides suffi-
done properly, so that rot cannot spread easily cient additional strength to render the hull a solid,

Expanded PVC foam cores such as Airex, Ter- one-piece unit. Bulkheads are fitted and fastened to

manto, and Klegecell have proven themselves as well. the hull with FRP tape, similar to the system used in
They are inert materials and cannot absorb water and production craft. This construction lends itself to the
rot if the outer skin is broken. They also are available amateur builder because the large timbers of wood
m large panels that lend themselves to one-off con- boats and the intricate molds of fiberglass hulls are
struction over a relatively simple wood framework. eliminated.
Core materials vary in thickness according to boat

UNDERSTANDING BOAT DESIGN

94