New Member Question

[quadmidnight]

Hi, I have been looking at this forum for years and I have finally registered.

(there's a reason for everyting)

I have recently purchased the last ORIGINAL 37 Midnight Express. The boat was just completed and laid up with vinylester resin and mantex 1" foam coring was used throughout. The tranom is nearly 4" thick and has knees tied into stringers for transom strength.

It also has 3 center line fuel tanks tha are running from stern to cabin. And then from mid cabin to bow. They are glassed and foamed in between stringers and bulkeads.

The boat was specifically made for quad outboards, will have a top speed of 85-90 + and will be used for pleasure.

The builder has the molds but no longer produces the boat. He builds 40 and 60 ft sportfishers now.

The boat is home now and I am finishing the cuddy area with bench tops, top for berth, 2 forward bulkeads for top deck support and several other bulk heads in bow of boat under anchor locker.


So now to the dilemma.

Builder says use low density coring to finish cabin bulkheads, bench tops etc......, layer of 1.5 ounce cloth on both sides, tab in with two layers of 1708.

Other opinions have been........ 1708 on both sides, heavy denisty coring. Tab in w/2 layers of 1708

OR......low density w/1708 tab in w/ 1708 My Choice......

Cabin is going to then be gel coated and eventually covered in uphosltery so appearance is not the major concern. Important but not expected to be " faired" Obviously strength is my concern.




What should I do?????

Can I go with a lighter cloth say 10 oz cloth and tab in with 1708, can I use polyester resin instead of vinylester for this or........

I am trying to keep budget down and not waste or use materials that I don't need. But I aslo want confidence when offshore travelling st high speeds and going through the inlet.

Also not a lot of info on Mantex coring but seems to be in line with others.
12-15 lb density, 18-22 lb and 24-28 lb

Any advice..............PLEASE

[quadmidnight]

Problem solved. Talked to builder again and questioned the technique. He misunderstood question and assumed I knew to put top and bottom layer of 1708 on first and then 1.5oz cloth for finish. Now I am

[gbaaron]

Any pics? i love those boats

[quadmidnight]

I do have picts, however doesn't lookl ike I can post them. If you like. send me an email and I will send picts back or go to


offshoreonly.com and look under midnight express forum (Last 37 Midnight) my screen name is Enforcer2


Tony

[gbaaron]

For some reason I can't view pics on OSO. I think I have to upgrade my membersip.

If its not too much trouble email them to aaronklos@aol.com

Thanks