Plywood ,balsa or composite for just the pad portion of a recore

**coffeeguy** · 09-27-2017, 05:24 AM

For just the area of the actual pad (inside for a recore) on a hydrostream Valero, what would be the best material. I am leaning toward a okoume plywood for just the pad area. Looking for strength and longtivity. It is 7&1/4" wide between the stringers and would gabout 96"(8ft) long which brings it to windshield so the weight difference between a piece of wood that long an balsa or composite is just a few pounds. Should I do the full pad if going with the plywood or the back(6ft or so from behind the seats ) where the boat really would ride?

**XstreamVking** · 09-27-2017, 06:00 AM

Ply in the keel would be ok. Just drill a few holes in it to allow the air under it to escape easily. Seal it up real well as this area is wet often. ( IMO foam core would be better/lighter and won't rot.) For the rest of the bottom, I would only use balsa or foam material like corecell or divinnycell to core it. Ply is too stiff and would be very heavy.

**coffeeguy** · 09-27-2017, 06:21 AM

I am planning to use either balsa or composite for the rest of the recore.

**JPEROG** · 09-27-2017, 08:20 AM

I am a "no wood" fan. You can get high density foam core for the areas needed in the keel.

Joe

**W2F a V-King** · 09-29-2017, 03:21 PM

I agree with the above. Not that I am anybody

, but I did Just finish that part of my V-King restore, pad. transom, core and am finishing up the stringers. 3 of the 6 stringers are done.

1/2" H-80 Divinycell for the core and pad area.

**Gmcviper** · 09-29-2017, 04:09 PM

I would venture to say that plywood has less strength than a properly done foam or balsa core. If your replacing the stringers it is stronger to set them on top of the core.

**RobF** · 09-30-2017, 09:05 AM

foam is not stronger than plywood , its hard to beat the strength of plywood or balsa

**XstreamVking** · 10-01-2017, 06:17 AM

What scares me is seeing reg home depot plywood used in boats. If you are going to use plywood, use only marine grade ply.

**vnemous** · 10-01-2017, 06:26 AM

isn't this nice?????

**W2F a V-King** · 10-01-2017, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by RobF

foam is not stronger than plywood , its hard to beat the strength of plywood or balsa

True enough and it is somewhat cheaper, than composites.
But over time it eventually gets wet and rots and causes problems.
The composites will outlast the wood.

As prices keep coming down on the composites, boat manufacturers will be using it more and more.

**RobF** · 10-01-2017, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by W2F a V-King

True enough and it is somewhat cheaper, than composites.
But over time it eventually gets wet and rots and causes problems.
The composites will outlast the wood.

As prices keep coming down on the composites, boat manufacturers will be using it more and more.

Yes it will rot, but I have worked on boats from the 60s with their original wood.
strength- plywood. Brand new Doug wright all composite except one place- the transom- plywood.

had a skater copy, won't name names, only 5 years old the foam core in the bottom delaminated, cracks in the hull, water got in and delaminated more of the bottom, had to come out.

Composites good but they are not without fault.

**W2F a V-King** · 10-01-2017, 11:01 AM

Agreed.

It's all about how it's made.

Done several complete restores myself, and it seems I'm always digging out rotted wood.

Anything man made is likely to fail sooner or later...I have seen all glass boats de-laminate as well. Goes back to not being made properly.