First Cat: TPI Lagoon ?

[smj]

Nice design, but not a fan of balsa core construction. Any opinions to the balsa core const. out there?

[Bill4]

Originally Posted by smj

Nice design, but not a fan of balsa core construction. Any opinions to the balsa core const. out there?

"Not a fan of balsa core construction." I've heard people say that before so I've always assumed that balsa in hulls is a bad thing. But has anyone ever actually had a problem with a balsa cored hull? Does the TPI Lagoon 42 have solid glass below the waterline and balsa core construction above, or is it all balsa cored?

[smj]

Originally Posted by Bill4

"Not a fan of balsa core construction." I've heard people say that before so I've always assumed that balsa in hulls is a bad thing. But has anyone ever actually had a problem with a balsa cored hull? Does the TPI Lagoon 42 have solid glass below the waterline and balsa core construction above, or is it all balsa cored?

Maybe I shouldn't have said that. If done correctly balsa would be a good coring but most production builders I don't think will take the time to seal the balsa correctly. I'm sure there are quite a few balsa cored hulls built by owners that are fine. I think TPI built good boats but not sure how well they sealed the balsa. Definetly my favorite Lagoon design by far.

[Hotel L]

The Lagoon 42 TPI has balsa core using a technology called SCRIMP. A blog online from Lucy Blue has a great post a year or so back when they replaced a thru haul that was installed wrong. Its amazing how well SCRIMP prevented serious damage.

Sorry no link but I am on my smartphone.

[GRIT]

Scrimp is resin infusion, that means the mold was put under vacuum and the resin was "sucked" in by vacuum (or pushed in by atmospheric pressure). The major benifit of this system for balsa is that each and every void is filled with resin. Water intrusion is not nearly the issue it is with "hand laid" glass.

In my opinion, having had balsa core on my own boat, balsa is my least favourite core. BUT, if it's infused (Like SCRIMP) then it's as good as any other core, with it's own merits and downfalls. Water simply does not migrate through an infused core.

Click here to see why hand laminated balsa sucks:
http://svocelot.com/Ocelot/ThaiRefit/Week26.htm

Cheers.
Paul.