nomadwilly wrote:Hey guy's ,
I think you're definition of "solid" needs some clarification. It's possible there is only one brand on this forum that dos'nt have timber reinforced hull bottoms and they almost all scum to water ingestion and rot over time. John, if your cabin has no wood reinforcement it is unusually heavy or weak. FG lacks stiffness and plywood has lots of that and that's why is's use is nearly universal. Foams that deliver the stiffness (like airex) are very expensive and take time to install. Airex core is the best FG construction but so expensive it's not used on production boats. FF says; "You are not describing a GRP boat , more like a TT "composite"". That's what most all of the boats on TF are. I don't think the Albin 25 has wood structures inside but I don't know of any others.
Regarding wood that is incorporated as sub strata or fillers into fiberglass boats, between fiberglass layers or otherwise utilized in fiberglass building methods:
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Tollycraft is my choice!
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Were the proud 2<sup>nd</sup> owners of an extremely well cared for 1977 34 Tollycraft tri cabin.* The original British owner loved his Tolly, utilized a top boat-yard and a great mechanic for care of his Tolly, and, at 92, in 2008 he had to leave the water.* As well as continuing the care on our fine Tolly, and even instituting some improvements, I also deeply study Tollycrafts history and am often conversant with many Tollycraft owners as well as with Gordon Graham who for over 2 decades had been the lead purchasing manager for Tollycraft Company.* He and wife Patsy live minutes from Mr. Robert Merland Tollefson himself (who turned a healthy 100 this year) and they occasionally visit him to sip some Cutty Sark, Mr. Tollys favorite.* Gordon Grahams website is the pivot point for Tollycraft parts, many sales of all sizes and years of Tolly boats, and just some good ol conversation with Gordon if ya want to learn something re Tolly building practices or company history.* Gordon IS a champ!* His website:
http://www.tolly-classified.com/* I recommend you visit the site and be sure to listen to the whole Tollycraft song talk about relaxing and simply the way we boaters want/need it to be!!!* Yup... Im deep into enjoying Tollycraft boats and the near cult like group of Tolly owners!
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A little Tolly history: As with any boat builder company over a long period of construction, Tollycraft production methods went through numerous gyrations during the companys 50 + years.* Originally, as Mr. Tollefson is a fine carpenter and cabinet maker, all Tolly were wood.* In mid to late 60s they went to cold lam.* My beginning 70s Tolly was well into solid fiberglass construction. ***Early 70s to late 80s the originator, Robert Merland Tollefson, was strongly at the helm of production and demanded nothing but the finest materials and best building methods.* You could say he was a fanatic about building the best production boat in the world, and for a couple of decades he was successful at it!* By saying that I dont mean to imply that other year Tollycraft were not also built to very high standards... because they surely were.* But, in the 70 and 80s the boating industry was doing exceptionally well with sales galore and continually tall annual profits; that is why Mr. Tolly himself could afford to demand nothing but the very best in materials and building methods!* In the 90s, not too long after Mr. Tolly retired, the company experienced financial problems and was kept alive by further investment but eventually succumbed to changing times and closed its doors for good in late 90s.* I wrote a multi page poem about the history of Tollycraft and Mr. Tolly.* Gave two bound copies to Gordon Graham and he hand delivered a personalized copy to Robert Tollefson.* PM me your email address if youd like to read an attachment of the poem. *
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So... regarding wood (or the lack of it) in our nearly 100% fiberglass 1977 34 Tolly tri cabin...
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1.****** Hull is solid hand laid fiberglass of the finest web/mesh and resin available, no filler at all.* Bottom is approx 1.25 thick / sides approx 1 / transom approx .75 / keel solid fiberglass / bow stem solid fiberglass
2.****** Stringers are high quality foam core used as a mold for hand laid resin impregnated fiber mesh intricately woven into the hulls fiberglass construction.* Approx thickness of stringer top and sides .75 real solid units, no flex here!
3.****** Main deck is high quality foam cored with multi layered hand laid fiberglass top and bottom
4.****** Superstructure walls are solid fiberglass and some foam cored fiberglass
5.****** Sun desk and fly bridge decks are foam cored and fiberglassed top and bottom
6.****** Fly bridge sides, front and console are solid hand laid fiberglass
7.****** Swim step is mostly solid, thick fiberglass with a bit of foam core
8.****** Full railings and stanchions surround every deck and on bridge top and sides as well as all four ladders are 1 SS round stock
9.****** Forward and rear bulkheads under salon floor that create step downs into master and fore peak state rooms and the wall and floor for anchor rode are marine grade plywood
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There are only five minor sized locations on our Tolly where exterior wood at all exists or is exposed to the elements: One is 1.5 x 2.5 full length spacers at the junction where the fly bridge sides bolt onto the salons top.* One is where the sliding doors on either side of salon meet their forward casement area.* One is both sliding doors themselves.* One is the front hatch cover.
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Long and short of it... Our 1977 Tolly is basically 100% fiberglass with NO wood fillers that could rot between fiberglass layers and the foam sub strata sometimes used is of the highest quality.* Maintenance and upkeep is simply a breeze on our Tollys exterior, interior, engine compartment (a very roomy area under two large salon floor hatches) and its bilge throughout!* Also, she has two large heads, one in each stateroom; with electric flush toilet, H/C sink, shower apparatus, mirror and plenty of cabinets.
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Happy Boating!* Cheers!!* Art *
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