Pierre

Thank you for the insights... That's about what i suspected. The figures on the West System website (which I've linked to above) are extremely deceiving, as far as weight is concerned. Other research I've conducted stresses that the weight savings increases as the thickness of the core increases - Meaning a bigger boat will see a greater weight advantage in using foam. According to the scantlings that Graham drew up for you, what are the approximate weights of the 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch foam composite panels (4x8) versus 1088 ply (Okoume)?

Hello, I've been haunting this forum (and B&B's website) for several years and have finally decided to build a boat. I will have the time and resources to complete this project this winter/early spring. I spent last spring renovating a small daysailer, which turned out very well, and gives me some optimism in my abilities to undertake a larger, boatbuilding project. My question to the forum is: Does anyone have any experience using foam composites with the CS/Belhaven designs? I specifically want to use "Corecell", which I can buy in Toronto. I will gladly build with ply (if advised against using composites), however, the weight savings with Corecell, according to what I've found, would nearly cut the weight of the hull in half***. This weight savings would allow me to keep the boat on a dolly which I could launch by myself, instead of at a dock slip, which costs about $900/season (vs $200/season for dry docking). The added cost of the materials would pay for itself within a couple of seasons, through lower moorage fees. Also, will the lighter weight affect performance negatively, in any manner? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Pierre *** http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/Uploads/06-Flatpanels.pdf