Airex cored hull

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Gordon - 27 Jan 2007 00:19 GMT

Someone once told me his airex cored hull tested "wet". What does this
mean? I thought water couldn't go anywhere in airex and if the glass is
properly bonded, it ain't going that route either! I don't get it. And
if there was some water in there, so what?

Gordon

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Jim Conlin - 27 Jan 2007 15:57 GMT

I think that Airex is a closed-cell material, but Airex and other core
materials are often kerfed to facilitate bending to the contours of he mold.
These kerfs are often not filled, so they provide paths for water to travel,
sometimes great distances.

> Someone once told me his airex cored hull tested "wet". What does this
> mean? I thought water couldn't go anywhere in airex and if the glass is
> properly bonded, it ain't going that route either! I don't get it. And
> if there was some water in there, so what?
>
> Gordon

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Dave W - 27 Jan 2007 23:01 GMT

I think the usual deal with water in Airex composites is water between the
fglas and the Airex. Problem is freezing leading to further loss of bond
and it goes downhill from there. I was told by a surveyor that every rudder
he ever tested showed water infiltration (solid layups). How does the water
get in? Probably at fittings or at places where the glass has been abraded
by grounding.
DAve

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Boat Forum / Building / January 2007

Airex cored hull