Core Material

[rcnight]

Curious Gents - whats the theory behind using blocks of plywood as opposed to whole sheets as core material in the decks and sometimes caps? Definitely plywood. Only mfg I didn't find this practice was in my Tracker, which used Balsa, which also rots.

[strick]

They used to spred out the potter putty over the initial laminate and put the blocks in leaving a small gap in between each block. Then they spred another layer of putty over the puzzle where by sealing in between each block... then laminate over that...the theory was that should one block get some rot it would not spred to the others. Also a whole sheet of ply would be harder to get to conform to the part shape then the blocks. It made for a heavier part but it worked...but in this day and age why not go composite I say

strick

[Basketcase]

This is an old tracker bass boat I restored where they did just that. Seemed fine. Just odd.