I know it's probably not worth the money or the effort but I like that kind of work and since my wife got the boat at 14 it has kind of sentimental value.
I started refurbishing our laser. It has been stored outside, upside down for 5 or 6 years. The deck was separating from the hull at the bow so water got in and soaked the deck foam. Most of the deck foam was detached from its fiberglass skins. I separated the deck from the hull and removed the inside skin and all the foam. Now I have to redo that sandwich panel. I could use Core Cell foam and that's probably what I will use but it's pretty expansive. Balsa is a little cheaper but its heavier. Nida core is light and less expansive.
Here's my question: Has someone ever repaired a deck with less expansive alternative material with good proven result and if so what material?
I have search the forum and found few threads on core material but nothing less expansive and with proven result.
Most Laser owners don't do a full core replacement, so I don't think you'll get a lot of answers here, but you might want to check other cored boat forums (Hobie Cats are one that come to mind, IIRC I read a number of threads there discussing core replacements and choices used)
If you are not concerned with class legality: Something to consider, you don't have to re-core it, you could go with a single skin laminate with glass ribs. It will be lighter, and less worry about the core/glass bond on the original deck, and substantial cost savings. Even a hybrid, cored in some areas, and single skin/ribs in others would save you a significant amount of money.
I looked at that possibilities but the outer skin is so thin that it would flex even with minimum spaces between the ribs. Maybe a hybrid like you proposed. A thin foam sandwich backedup by ribs. I'll have to think about that further.
That will probably end up with the original method with corecell foam. I will take the opportunity to reinforce some area like around the topand the bottom of the mast well. Also I'll replace the plywood fdor screwing by some plastic.
Hi 49208,
I remember, there was an instruction how to do such repair, somewhere at the former drLaser.org.
Perhaps you, or the TLF-staff-team, could search for it (WayBackMachine)? Or is that instruction 'too old'?
All I know, dr Laser is well and still is beating the waves successfully on his LaserRadial at the Marmara Sea (I did quit Facebook on Dec 31th 2013 in reason of the NSA/GCHQ-stink at GER, so, till then, unfortunately I lost contact with Shevy)
Rasmus may always give you an extra blow into your sail!