Check out this boat, it's was just built.

The Main Sand Box for bertram31.com

Moderators: CaptPatrick, mike ohlstein, Bruce

yachts101
Posts: 11
Joined: Dec 10th, '08, 22:08
Location: Tarpon Springs , FL

Post by yachts101 »

Hello Rawleigh, You ask and I'll try to answer, but first I am not involved with the workings of the website but I did pass on the information you all provided and that is being resolved. As I understand it the web designers used placeholder pictures because completed pictures of the Nassau were not available and I shouldn't have included the web address in the clip until those changes were made, as the President of the company has repeatedly told me, all day. If I can answer any questions about the boat I would be happy to.
User avatar
Charlie
Senior Member
Posts: 357
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 12:59

Post by Charlie »

yachts101 good luck with your boat. Some of you guys need to take a deep breath and relax. I have posted many many pictures of Bertrams over the years. Most of them I took myself while your boats were in full PUBLIC view. Gee the guy said he was sorry and explained the Bertram pics were "placeholders". Good enough for me.
Good Luck and I hope the boat is a hit because it is a really nice looking boat. Can't wait to see one in person.
jspiezio
Senior Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Nov 25th, '07, 07:21
Location: Long Island, NY

Post by jspiezio »

Charlie wrote:yachts101 good luck with your boat. Some of you guys need to take a deep breath and relax. I have posted many many pictures of Bertrams over the years. Most of them I took myself while your boats were in full PUBLIC view. Gee the guy said he was sorry and explained the Bertram pics were "placeholders". Good enough for me.
Good Luck and I hope the boat is a hit because it is a really nice looking boat. Can't wait to see one in person.
That's the truth.
User avatar
Bruce
Site Admin
Posts: 3789
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 12:04
Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

Post by Bruce »

I have posted many many pictures of Bertrams over the years
Trying to sell something?

Design a car to look like the corvette and put a picture of a corvette up to sell it and see how fast GM lawyers get a hold of you.

Theres a legitimate complaint and concern among folks here who realize the differences between the two boats and those who are not as knowlegable might think that the new boat is just like the 31 only new.

While I don't really have a clue, I would consider that false advertising.
User avatar
Carl
Senior Member
Posts: 6082
Joined: Jul 5th, '06, 06:45
Location: Staten Island NY

Post by Carl »

Wasn't one of the sponsors making a replica of the 31 a few years back? 31 classic or classic 31 or something to that effect.
Hell guys, I would hope the Nassau 32 takes off, it would only increase the value of our boats as we have the originals. They would be selling knockoffs at 350 grand. Better or not they would be knockoffs just like The new Thunderbird, The new Mustang, etc. except we are told they are retro instead, call it what you like.

As to the pictures, 101, if they are just placeholders it's understandable but linking us to the site with them on there was a boo boo.

As to the performace specs, I know you are comparing to a 31, why the false information? Exactly what 31 Bertam cruises at 12 knots and burns 50gph? Your numbers are excellent but they are diminshed by falsehoods. Or did I miss something.

Carl
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

As to the pictures, 101, if they are just placeholders it's understandable but linking us to the site with them on there was a boo boo.
Frankly, I don't buy into the "Place Holder" story... Most webmasters use an image like "Image not available" or simply mask the place holder from view by the browser until an image is available.

Also, the images of the real B31s were not photographed by whoever, within the Nassau 32 staff. They were extracted directly from the Internet, in large part from this website. There's a real big difference between how Nassau 32 is using these images & how images are used showing the turnout of a rendezvous, as Bruce pointed out.
Gentlemen, the pictures of the other boats, not the Nassau 3204 are being removed from their website immediately.
Gee, I knew that a Tampa minute was longer than a New York minute, so obviously "immediately" surely would take a few more moments down south. But we're in day three now and Chimera, Buddy Boy, and all of the rest of our B31s are still there... Oh, I get it.... "Nassau" as maybe in "Bahamas"... Guess we'll just have to wait a few more weeks...

Again, I'm not knocking the boat, but the website... Apples n' oranges... The apple looks great, but the orange is starting to grow green hair.
Image

Br,

Patrick
jspiezio
Senior Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Nov 25th, '07, 07:21
Location: Long Island, NY

Post by jspiezio »

Extra points for the visuals Capt P.
User avatar
Ironman
Senior Member
Posts: 527
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 11:06

Post by Ironman »

I think its a good thing to be copied.its flattery..
There are soo many funny looking new boat styles nowadays that are high $.. & wont last.
The original is made more valuable. the car reference is right on.
but I think the wrong facts on our performance should be corrected. & I know they wont be riding as good as ours..Get that straight &.
Hope they succeed..just my 2cents
Wayne
ianupton
Senior Member
Posts: 548
Joined: Jul 1st, '06, 16:53
Location: Peninsula, OH

Post by ianupton »

I think is is great to have a 'new' option. Reminds me of the outfit in British Columbia that have the 20 and 25 foot hull mold.

I would offer the hull cored on the hull sides and solid glass on the bottom if the buyer desired.

Most likely they would do this in solid fiberglass if one wanted.

There was on shot of the starboard stern by the hawse pipe and the liner looked to have considerable amounts of glass in it.

Looks good!

Good luck I say.

Ian.
User avatar
Carl
Senior Member
Posts: 6082
Joined: Jul 5th, '06, 06:45
Location: Staten Island NY

Post by Carl »

CaptPatrick wrote:Frankly, I don't buy into the "Place Holder" story... Most webmasters use an image like "Image not available" or simply mask the place holder from view by the browser until an image is available.

Br,

Patrick

Capt Pat, I didn't say I bought into it either. I said "it was understandable", maybe just looking for an out, maybe the truth, maybe the first thing that came to mind, maybe an outright lie, whatever, just have the pics pulled and tidy up the specs. I would love to see what "improvements" they made to the best boat ever built.
Last edited by Carl on Dec 13th, '08, 14:15, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Brewster Minton
Senior Member
Posts: 1795
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 07:44
Location: Hampton Bays NY
Contact:

Post by Brewster Minton »

Its to light to run in the snot. Mine is 14000 with ice maybe more. And the Pics should be pulled of Best Boat Ever!!!!
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Carl,

Wasn't callin' out your acceptance of the term, but rather that place holders are a valid way of coding for future implants, but that there are ways to do it correctly. In this case, it's obvious the technique was not only used incorrectly, but also less than honestly...

At any rate, I'm pretty much done with whippin' a dead horse and movin' on to more important issues.

I would, though, very much like to hear from yachts101 with more info on their new boat. Construction techniques, problems run into & solved, material choices, such as: Which foam core, thickness of the skins & core, which fabrics were chosen, etc... Already know they're using a cutting edge technology for theit resin choice.

Not lookin' for trade secrets, just the usual stuff any boatbuilder will gladly offer up when ask. Anybody with a good product should be proud of it & be ready to talk your ear off about it.

Come on, yachts, talk to us! No need to involve yourself with more apologies for the website blunders, just give us some boat meat to chew on. You already know what carnivores we are...

Br,

Patrick
User avatar
Rocky
Senior Member
Posts: 690
Joined: Nov 23rd, '08, 10:36
Location: Northern California

Post by Rocky »

I had lots of "internal injuries" to my little 13ft Whaler in rough seas as a kid. It's core literaly could not handle the sheer and torsional stresses.
Rocky.
User avatar
randall
Senior Member
Posts: 2623
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:29
Contact:

Post by randall »

rocky.....i actually broke mine.....no one told me you weren't supposed to see how high you could get above the water running full speed straight into a six foot swell. at 14 i thought that was the whole idea.
jspiezio
Senior Member
Posts: 882
Joined: Nov 25th, '07, 07:21
Location: Long Island, NY

Post by jspiezio »

randall wrote:rocky.....i actually broke mine.....no one told me you weren't supposed to see how high you could get above the water running full speed straight into a six foot swell. at 14 i thought that was the whole idea.
Bringing back memories you guys
User avatar
Buju
Senior Member
Posts: 796
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:11
Location: Key Largo, FL

Post by Buju »

see how high you could get above the water running full speed straight into a six foot swell. at 14 i thought that was the whole idea.
you mean it's not? and all this time....
I don't know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely dont,
Think I'll go and fix myself...a tall one.
User avatar
neil
Senior Member
Posts: 881
Joined: Jul 5th, '06, 14:11

Post by neil »

jr has an 11 ft whaler with a 25,this morning he went ice breaking,at 11 yrs old thats what ya do when there are no boats wakes to jump
User avatar
In Memory of Vicroy
Senior Member
Posts: 2340
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:19
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Post by In Memory of Vicroy »

I managed to flip my1962 13' Whaler off the trailer behind my Lincoln Mark 4 (dark green coupe with white leather interior, aiiiiieeeee!!) going 97 mph down the interstate.....bounced a couple of times, tore the motor off and split the hull down the middle and on one side.....back on the trailer, took her home.....three come-a-longs, some rope, some fiberglass tape and resin and she's good as new.....Da Judge is her Steward now, heard he put her in his hangar during Gustav's visit to Galveston and she, trailer & all, ended up on the wing of a WW2 bonber.....can't kill 'em.

UV
User avatar
Rocky
Senior Member
Posts: 690
Joined: Nov 23rd, '08, 10:36
Location: Northern California

Post by Rocky »

Yep, fully cored hulls are great, aren't they? I am absolutely the happiest person I could be owning this original B31!! The reason I bought mine is my father had one, and I know that boat and how it leaves you feeling EVERY time we used it. That is the same pride I have now, owning one of my own. That is what every B31 owner here has, and should except no imitation! Rocky.
User avatar
Buju
Senior Member
Posts: 796
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:11
Location: Key Largo, FL

Post by Buju »

Well, the Bertram pics are down and have been replaced with the Nassau pics...their site makes sense now. visually that is.
SO, I think there's only one reason why the they're treating the "B" word like a bad case of the clap, they're not sure if they're quite legal with all this. Ouch.
As long as they, in no way refer/infer to the word "Bertram" or ever display the Bertram logo, the Bertram company will not be concerned with their endeavor.
Strange how I perceived that backassward. I guess following the rules makes you seem a bit shady at times... sorry Yachts.
I think that he would do better as a responsive, English speaking, Cabrerra
Thats what I was thinkin... Pretty nice glasswork. Is this is one of their latest as well?
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1974/Be ... ted-States
Thats gotta be the niceset B28 I've seen... Or maybe a working prototype for the Nassau29? Nice work either way...
I don't know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely dont,
Think I'll go and fix myself...a tall one.
User avatar
Harv
Senior Member
Posts: 1184
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 23:59
Location: Brooklyn,NY
Contact:

Post by Harv »

Buju wrote:Thats what I was thinkin... Pretty nice glasswork. Is this is one of their latest as well?
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1974/Be ... ted-States
Thats gotta be the niceset B28 I've seen... Or maybe a working prototype for the Nassau29? Nice work either way...
The ad says totally renovated, everything new BERTRAM 28.
Harv
User avatar
Harv
Senior Member
Posts: 1184
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 23:59
Location: Brooklyn,NY
Contact:

Post by Harv »

Buju wrote:Well, the Bertram pics are down and have been replaced with the Nassau pics...their site makes sense now. visually that is.
Actually, there is still one Bertram on their site and there's 4 pictures of her to boot. It's the same boat I linked in an earlier post.
Harv
User avatar
Buju
Senior Member
Posts: 796
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:11
Location: Key Largo, FL

Post by Buju »

Or maybe a working prototype for the Nassau29?
That was just a lttle tongue-in-cheek humor Harv...
...but there might be some truth to it. If they made a mold for the 31, wouldn't think they'd have much trouble doing the 28.
By the way, the mold for their 31 (N32) looks like a one piece mold, and the hull seems to have the same tumblehome as the B31?
How'd they done that?
I don't know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely dont,
Think I'll go and fix myself...a tall one.
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Buju,

They're using a two piece hull mold just the way that Bertram did...

The image of their mold, at the point that it was being constructed, shows the joint line down the center line. The rectangular pockets that you see are the registration keys. When the mold was finished, the flange would have been drilled every few inches to accept large through bolts. By the way they've designed their mold, with the registration pockets, they may be clamping rather than bolting the two halves together.

Image
Craig Mac
Senior Member
Posts: 715
Joined: Feb 15th, '07, 18:09

Post by Craig Mac »

Looking through the gallery pics--it looks like they made at least two--one with front windows and one without.
User avatar
Harv
Senior Member
Posts: 1184
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 23:59
Location: Brooklyn,NY
Contact:

Post by Harv »

Craig Mac wrote:Looking through the gallery pics--it looks like they made at least two--one with front windows and one without.
Craig,

Look again at the gallery pics or better yet, click on the link I provided about 3 or 4 posts up the page. The boat with the front windows is a Bertram. Look at the side pilaster. Notice the Bertram bridge step with the eagle logo inside it? Also, look at the gallery pic of the boat head on and notice the Bertram chock on the bow. The only boat it seems they made has a green hull. The other boat has a blue hull, and that's a Bertram.
Harv
yachts101
Posts: 11
Joined: Dec 10th, '08, 22:08
Location: Tarpon Springs , FL

New video shows shot from cabin while underway

Post by yachts101 »

User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

C'mon, yachts, I almost begged you to post more info on your boat, and all we get is the re-posting of your video link?? We've all seen the video, now talk to us!
Tony Meola
Senior Member
Posts: 7036
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 21:24
Location: Hillsdale, New Jersey
Contact:

Post by Tony Meola »

Guys

I am not sure Yachts 101 is the builder. He posts on Boat Diesel and at one point when I had posted a question for Tony Athens, Yachts 101 jumped in and posted some pics that helped answer my question.

I am just not sure what their involvement is, but he should let us know if he is an investor, or just hoping to sell them.
yachts101
Posts: 11
Joined: Dec 10th, '08, 22:08
Location: Tarpon Springs , FL

Post by yachts101 »

I am the project manager on this build.
Ask me any questions you want and I'll answer the ones I can.
User avatar
Buju
Senior Member
Posts: 796
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:11
Location: Key Largo, FL

Post by Buju »

I'd love to know what you're using as the core material...my guess would be one of the "honeycomb"-like materials...

Are you guys also vaccuum bagging the hull?

Is that B28 one of your (their) projects as well?
I don't know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely dont,
Think I'll go and fix myself...a tall one.
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

yachts101 wrote:I am the project manager on this build.
Ask me any questions you want and I'll answer the ones I can.
Errr...
CaptPatrick wrote:Construction techniques, problems run into & solved, material choices, such as: Which foam core, thickness of the skins & core, which fabrics were chosen, etc... Already know they're using a cutting edge technology for theit resin choice.

Not lookin' for trade secrets, just the usual stuff any boatbuilder will gladly offer up when ask. Anybody with a good product should be proud of it & be ready to talk your ear off about it. (from previous page)
User avatar
Mikey
Senior Member
Posts: 1475
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 10:12
Location: White Stone, VA

Post by Mikey »

"The 31 Sportfisherman (believe they speak of our babies) is truly
a classic, and with thousands sold . . ."
From their website, maybe a few more correct facts would help their case.
"with thousands sold"???? Not the whole production run of B31's was "thousands." and the sportfish? How many?

If I had 350 beans in my jeans and wanted a new "31" I'd find the best hull I could scrounge for next to nothing and either do it myself (Gee that's what I did) or get an expert like Pat and say here's the carcass make me a boat. Probably less than 350 (or not) but I'd have an original with no cored hull or anything that might be construed as deceptive and a boat that looks fabulous, takes more of a pounding than my old frame will and has all the contemporary features, not a pretender.
Not a particularly good foot to get off on when dealing with a bunch of "finatics." If I were an Arab I'd be throwing shoes.
Mikey
3/18/1963 - -31-327 factory hardtop express, the only one left.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
-Albert Einstein
User avatar
In Memory of Vicroy
Senior Member
Posts: 2340
Joined: Jun 29th, '06, 09:19
Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Post by In Memory of Vicroy »

Mikey - most of us agree that 1860 B31s of all five models were the production run from 1961 to end of regular production after the 1983 model year, and then the 23 Silver Anniversary models built in 1986 and that's it.

I wonder is these guys have any connection or have consulted with the Classic 31 guys in WPB? Some of John & Ray's ideas were pretty good, such as the elimination of the molded in toe rails, etc.

UV
User avatar
nic
Senior Member
Posts: 345
Joined: Sep 6th, '06, 00:43
Location: Sydney

Post by nic »

Well, from the pic of the mold I think I am looking at a chopper gun-layup.

Sorry, but unless the hull is hand-laid it is a travesty.

Say it ain't so, Yachts

Nic
Hull No. 330 1963 SF "Tennessee"
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Nic,

What you're looking at is the exterior of the hull mold, and appears to be only the skin layer over the orange tooling gelcoat. Hopefully, we'll someday get to see the actual hull lay up on a production part...

Generally, large molds are constructed with a fairly thin skin, then heavily reinforced with coring, followed by another fiberglass skin. Then the support ribbing, usually plywood and/or steel tubing, is configured & glassed in place. All done in place while on the hull plug.

This technique allows the mold to become very strong & rigid, but because of the thin fiberglass/resin inner skin, there is very little shrinkage or future distortion to the face of the production mold.

Typically, a finshed hull mold exterior will look similar ro this... (Obviously a sail boat hull in this case.)

Image

Below is a rather low quality image of the 37' Ocean Yacht hull mold. Notice the 2 rolling cradles, which allow the mold to be rocked from one side to the other for ease of layup.

Image

Br,

Patrick
Last edited by CaptPatrick on Dec 18th, '08, 19:39, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
gplume
Senior Member
Posts: 455
Joined: Jan 2nd, '07, 21:23
Location: North Scituate, RI

Post by gplume »

Guys-

I read the replies on cored hulls, and had some of the same thoughts. Today, I spent the day tooling around the lab at my sons school to see what my son was working on (URI, my son is going for a masters in ME.) One of his buddies projects (Not my sons project unfortuunately) is a Navt funded research project looking at foam cored fiberglass composite structures, and testing the material against various loads including bullets ect. All I can say is I have a new appreciation on how light and strong you can make thses structures. I would think with a proper vacuum infusion process you could bond the glass properly to the foam. Anyway, the navy is looking at this for a strong light material for some sort of watercraft. They key element of the research seems to be the foam, as I saw many ytprd of composite foam structures.

Anyway...fuel for thought. Maybe Foam cored isn't so bad afterall.

As an aside...Randall may apreciate this. My son is trying to spin up some variation on this for a possible application for surf baord construction. Of course that industry does not have the deep pockets of the defense industry....so I'm not sure there is any grant moeny.
Giff
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Giff wrote:Anyway...fuel for thought. Maybe Foam cored isn't so bad afterall.
Unquestionably, with proper design, choice of materials, modern techniques, such as vacuum infusion, resin transfer molding (RTM), autoclave curing epoxies, & epoxy pre-impregnated laminates (pre-pregs), there is no doubt that a cored hull can be produced that out performs any single skin hull.

The problem is that 98% of the boatbuilders just don't have the access, money, or expertise needed to make such a hull. Also, from a bottom line mentality, not many of the potential boat buyers would be willing to fork over the extra bucks for quality that rivals that of the Aero Space Industry.

But even the average boatbuilders have come a long way since the 60s, 70s, and even 80s. Materials like vinylester, biaxle fabrics, carbon fiber, Kevlar & other aramid fabrics, such as Nomex and Technora are making it possible to build far stronger & lighter composite products.

An awful lot of the bad press on cored hulls came from, (and justifiably so), early manufacturers who were using polyester resin, 0/90º weave fabrics, and coring with materials like balsacore & rigid closed cell foams.

And it's not like someone can just dump all these high tech materials into a bucket and have a good product. A lot of real high tech designing and engineering have to be accuretly blended in to acheive that high level of quality.

U.S. Military & Aero Space account for almost all of tenhnological advances over the past 4 decades...

Br,

Patrick
User avatar
gplume
Senior Member
Posts: 455
Joined: Jan 2nd, '07, 21:23
Location: North Scituate, RI

Post by gplume »

U.S. Military & Aero Space account for almost all of tenhnological advances over the past 4 decades...

Capt. Patrick-

Amen...I knew you were on board when I met you! Yup could not agree more...and worked on a lot of it along the way. I had this conversation with Jr. this afternoon, and he also concluded without the military there would be very little real research going on in the enginnering department where is working and studying. Nice to see that academia has not poisened the young lads mind.

(Ok, a couple of days ago I posted that I worked in the auto industry...but before that, nearly 17 years in the defense industry...may have to head back in that direction again. ( A little afraid beacuse of our new president elect.))
Giff
User avatar
nic
Senior Member
Posts: 345
Joined: Sep 6th, '06, 00:43
Location: Sydney

Post by nic »

Capt Pat,

Thanks...I thought I saw a gun. Imho you want to save weight, hand lay-up...you want strength...hand lay-up...you want longevity...

Btw, got a new avatar I'm going to email...helicopter shot.

Best wishes for Christmas to everyone, you too Yachts!

I had a look at your web-site and what you've got looks like a fun project.

Nic
Hull No. 330 1963 SF "Tennessee"
User avatar
luis
Senior Member
Posts: 166
Joined: Jun 25th, '07, 03:57
Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Post by luis »

A Replica will always be a replica. There are many for many other things. Now, who owns an original knows what he has and what one can do with.
Let's see during the next years how the replicas gonna survive. One thing I know, a replica is a replica and only looks (sometimes) like the original.
yachts101
Posts: 11
Joined: Dec 10th, '08, 22:08
Location: Tarpon Springs , FL

Post by yachts101 »

The core we used is Divinycell. Core construction adds a lot of strength with out increasing the weight, this core combined with the VER resins and a hand layed up procedure has created a very solid, strong & quiet ride.
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Oh boy.......... Divinycell is a good type of foam for a lot of cored items, like bulkheads, engine boxes, coaming panels, decks, house facing & house tops.

But, for a cored hull? No way.... Divinycell is a rigid closed cell foam. It has little impact resistance and next to zero memory. When you smack into something, a rock, reef, log, or other water hazard, the fiberglass skin will deflect and the Divinycell core will crush. The fiberglass pops back and leaves a void at the point of impact.

Hit something hard enough to deflect all the way to the inner skin and the sub-surface cells can rupture, which just destroyed the glass to foam bond there too. Hard flexing of the hull in heavy seas can do the same thing.

Try laminating two fiberglass skins over a section of Divinycell. Let 'em cure to full strength. Now catch the skins with your fingernails and pull. The Divinycell will fail at the surface bond and you'll peel the skins right off. It's not a matter of bond strength, fiberglass to foam, it's a matter of core weakness. I can do it with polyester, vinylester, or epoxy...

Take a piece of Divinycell and you can crush and crumble it with your fingers. H60 on the left & H80 on the right. Can't do that with Corecell, Klegecell or Airex...

Image

I have personally seen, and repaired, several Divinycell core hull failures. Believe me, it doesn't take much of an impact to crush Divinycell.

Corecell, Klegecell or Airex are the principle foams that can be considered for producing a cored hull, because they are highly impact resistant, more plastic & therefore have a memory, and won't easily delaminate from the fiberglass.

Damn yachts, we sure were hoping you were going to tell us you were usin' the good stuff. Kinda' negates the fact that your using high tech vinylester resin... Glue is only as good as what you glue it to.
Raybo Marine NY
Senior Member
Posts: 907
Joined: Jan 3rd, '07, 00:28
Location: Lindenhurst, NY
Contact:

Post by Raybo Marine NY »

I despise divinycell, I have used it 2 times, once was for a light weight race hatch, I vow to never use it again.

I do like airex core, but no one ever wants to pay for it, when given the choice people always go for end grain balsa instead- which again when properly installed and maintained could very well last forever.
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

end grain balsa instead- which again when properly installed and maintained could very well last forever.
Now there's my premier product to hate...

I've seen far more rotten and water logged balsa to ever consider it as a core choice. Anything flat and horizontal is doomed as soon as a breach happens. Screws are probably the biggest culprits for water egress. Even a screw bedded with 5200 is going to leak sooner or later. The next biggest culprit is hatch & deck seams. Glasstech used to, maybe still does, use balsa core for their B31 decks. The component fiberglass parts come out of a mold, then they would/do goop in end grain balsa, and throw a couple of layers of CS mat over the balsa.

I worked on an old 46' Post that the whole house was balsa core and the boat had a very pronounced list to starboard. When I started cutting out a bigger ladder way to the bridge, (owner was a BIG boy), I found out why the list... Whole house was soaking wet and the water was draining to the starboard side. Was like cutting into Niagra Falls.

Every one of their deck systems that have the balsa is sucking in water from failing seams between the molded part and the fg mat bacling.

I've repaired so much rotten balsa that it gave rise to my "trail mix" formulation of resin, cabosil, micro baloons, and vermiculite.... And also gave rise to my tip on Hardware Mounting in Composites.

Balsa in a hull core would be the kiss of death!

I actually like Divinycell, but ya' got know where, when. how to use it. At least it won't get saturated with water and rot... I use it primarialy for non-load bearing bulkheads and cored doors. And then I'm usually laminating both sides with heavy Formica & thickened epoxy.

Image
Raybo Marine NY
Senior Member
Posts: 907
Joined: Jan 3rd, '07, 00:28
Location: Lindenhurst, NY
Contact:

Post by Raybo Marine NY »

its as simple as removing the balsa from mounting points, its not the core that fails- its humans that start the process then mother nature takes over.

when you have a 10-20 year old boat with rotted balsa core its super easy to see how it got that way and repair it so it wont happen again, for light weight and strength balsa is king- and the core by which all composite cores compare themselves to achieve in terms of stregth and light weight.

custom building interiors is one thing, but when you have a regular customer who has some bad core from a poorly sealed windless or bow railing he does not want to pay the extra for a foam core in his 20 year old cruiser, give him his balsa back- remove it from mounting areas and he will be happy as long as no drills other holes in the core.

btw- I hate formica!
User avatar
nic
Senior Member
Posts: 345
Joined: Sep 6th, '06, 00:43
Location: Sydney

Post by nic »

Well said on Divinycell Capt. Pat.

Yachts, glad to hear you are hand-laying, but you got a problem. Easily fixed though, the design is all about a low centre of gravity, solid hull around past the chine, cored above.

You will find that dark hull colors & Divinycell don't go together either. You will also find that Divinycell know all this so start collecting your paperwork and tighten up on your evidence of the claims made for the product by the supplier so you can give them the bill.

The two prototypes can be destruction tested, though at this stage another tax write-off probably isn't a priority.

Did you put more head-room in the cabin?

Nic
Hull No. 330 1963 SF "Tennessee"
User avatar
Sean B
Senior Member
Posts: 411
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 08:03
Location: Melbourne, Florida

Post by Sean B »

The business, the website, and then finally the boat itself torn to shreds.... I got $20 bucks that says he never posts another message here again

Was definitely a good read though
User avatar
CaptPatrick
Founder/Admin
Posts: 4161
Joined: Jun 7th, '06, 14:25
Location: 834 Scott Dr., LLANO, TX 78643 - 325.248.0809 bertram31@bertram31.com

Post by CaptPatrick »

Hope he has thicker skin than that... Not much can be done in terms of Hull #1, but if they shift over to the correct foam for future hulls, he may just come back to say "Thank You!". But, ya' never know...

BTW, I'll take you're 20 buck bet, with a time limit to be disclosed via PM
User avatar
Sean B
Senior Member
Posts: 411
Joined: Jun 30th, '06, 08:03
Location: Melbourne, Florida

Post by Sean B »

you're on skipper
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 386 guests