Identifying Hull Coring

Whether a vessel's hull bottom is cored or solid fiberglass is a oftentimes not easy to determine from the manufacturer without a direct phone call, and this is sometimes impossible if they are no longer in business. However, this can most often be verified while onboard looking at the construction of the interior bilge spaces.  

The importance of determining this should go without saying as some systems require more scrutiny on a cored hull bottom. For example, any through-hull fixture through a cored hull bottom should have added reinforcement in that area or have the coring rebated out  to prevent compression of the sandwich core when tightening the skin fitting. Further, since this is an area prone to possible water intrusion it is important to inspect around these fixtures as well as paying special heed to any post-construction penetrations like transducers or additional intakes.  

When manufactured correctly, a cored hull bottom is nothing to fear but certainly important to verify during the course of the survey. The video above shows an example of identifying whether a hull bottom is cored or not. 

The vessel in the video was constructed with vacuum-bagged and vinyl-ester resin infused (SCRIMP™ Technology) Kevlar & E-Glass Hybrid exterior laminates and Carbon Fiber & E-Glass Hybrid interior laminates, sandwich cored with closed cell PVC foam and end-grain balsa wood core material. This was further reinforced with solid fiberglass by way of the drives, chines and keel. 

  SCRIMP™ Technology stands for 'Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process' and more information on that process can be found HERE.

Here's an example of a 'Quick Insert Option' phrase that have saved under 'Hull Material' for newer Hinckley Yachts. Feel free to copy/paste this phrase into your version of InspectX and adjust to your liking. 

HINCKLEY - Reportedly, vacuum-bagged and vinyl-ester resin infused SCRIMP™ Technology (Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process) Kevlar & E-Glass Hybrid exterior laminates and Carbon Fiber & E-Glass Hybrid interior laminates, sandwich cored with closed cell PVC foam and end-grain balsa wood core material, and reinforced with solid fiberglass by way of the drives, chines and keel.