by Ray » Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:10 am
Coring makes the boat lighter and stronger than if they used solid fiberglass. To get the same strength with fiberglass, the decks would need to be way too thick.
Making for a real heavy boat. Wood is the lightest and best coring material cause of strength, but it is the first to rot, if it gets wet.
Being dilligent about checking for loose screws and bolts, and makeing sure they are sealed off good will keep the wood dry.
This means any screws going into any surfaces with wood coring. You need to find out what devices are screwed into wood cored areas from the manufacturer.
This includes all devices under the deck like pumps, wire hangers ect... On top of the decks, make sure hatch covers, battery boxes/tie downs, center console(if screwed down),
windshield, grab rail, cleats, main engine and trolling motor mounts, GPS, dept finder, ect. are all tightened good.
Wood is just as good as the owner who checks for tight screws. If you find ANY soft spots, it's best to get them fixed right away. The smaller it is, the cheaper to fix.
If it gets too big, it means more money.
Also, some boat manufacturers have longer hull warranties than others. If you get one with wood, get the one with the best warranty. Read it well to make sure it includes
wood rot during the warranty time frame.