Wood/Epoxy Beams or Foam/Glass Beams?

[CatBuilder]

It seems every time I try something "more advanced" out, I like it a lot better
than the other way of doing things.

Now, I am looking at the beams. On one hand, I can make them from plywood and
sitka spruce framing.

On the other hand, I could make them from foam and various glass laminations.

Which would you want on your boat and why? My understanding of strengths are
these:

Wood/Epoxy:
The Good-
*Can withstand more cyclic loading without losing strength
The Bad-
*Good construction dependent on humidity
*Complicated things like laminating sitka spruce together and affixing in
patterns inside beams
*May rot someday if I didn't do a great job with my epoxy coating
*Heavier
*Sawdust
*I suck at working with wood and doing scarf joints

Foam/Glass:
The Good-
*Easier to make - just lay out foam flat, cut glass layers to shape and infuse
*Weighs less
*Can be infused easily
*Clean work
The Bad-
*Much more expensive
*Plans call for lots of uni, but maybe I can substitute some triax and biax in.

Which would you want on your boat and why?

[rberrey]

If you have to buy more foam, you may get a better deal with a case price. I ruled out the use of wood for the above reason when I bought my foam. Whatever higher cost I payed could,nt have been that much if shipping were figured in, and I hope that little extra was worth the weight savings I plan on getting. rick

[Brian@BNE]

*Less weight has to be good, particularly for a cat.
*at some point there's likely to be stuff screwed or bolted on, piercing your epoxy seal and opening the door to wet wood and rot. Maybe not a problem for you though as you know the risks.
*Could you have some embedded aluminum sections to improve strength characteristics and reduce cost?

....welcome back. Any recent photos, how's it all progressing?

[CatBuilder]

I guess it's unanimous. Nobody, and I mean nobody, on a couple of places I asked this question thought I should do anything but proper glass beams.

I was leaning that way as well.

Rick: Better prices on cases? I buy foam by the semi trailer load! ha ha ha Seriously, I think I got 6 double sheet cases last time.

So yeah, foam/glass beams it is. Thanks for the input.