Open ended question and answer. There was/are so many different processes used by the various builders, you really need to dig into the particular
builder and model you are interested in. A partial list of how:
- solid glass above and below WL
- solid glass below WL,
core above WL
- core throughout, above and below WL
The largest factor in how good the laminate integrity is depends upon builder's practises. You can take a balsa cored
hull that was simply set into a resin rich layer of chop or you can have a balsa
hull that was vacuum bagged or infused. Same material, very different potentials in problems. Frankly, I am a solid glass below WL and foam core above WL kinda guy. Been in this stupid industry for way too long.
Don't forget the
deck. The opportunity for a mushy
deck can be greater than the hull being bad. So many deck fittings that are seldom rebedded, allowing ingress for
water. Interestingly enough, mushy balsa cored decks are found more in a fresh
water environs than a
salt water one.
I no longer offer my services as a
marine consultant, but I would be sure to have any potential buy looked at thoroughly by a good
marine surveyor. Not just one who went through the accredidation steps but one who has been around boats and has the experience and gut to know when there is an issue. A moisture meter in knowledgeable hands is invaluable. I would recommend not using a
surveyor suggested by the selling
broker, just to keep it impartial.
Hmmm, I wonder what kind of storm this will cause?