SeaCraft Coring: What was used & where is it?

[mancinema]

What kind of coring has SeaCraft used over the years and where did they use it?

I’m considering buying a 1976 Master Angler and I noticed that when I push on the sides of the boat (between the transom and the center console) it seems to have a lot more flex than the other 20’ MA’s and SF’s I’ve looked at. What could be causing that? Is it just thin fiberglass or has the coring rotted? Does it even have coring there? Basically I’m trying to find out what areas of a SeaCraft are susceptible to rot.

From what I’ve read on this site, I’ve been able to deduce the the following areas on a SeaCraft have coring:

Gunwale Cap - ?
Transom - Marine Plywood
Hatches - ?
Deck - Marine Plywood

Please add, correct, and fill-in this list…

THANK YOU!!!!

[Dilligaf]

gunale cap and floors should be 6 by 6 squares of balsa if i remember correctly. someone will give definate answer

[mancinema]

Maybe it would be better to make a list of everywhere wood might have been used in construction - A list of anything that could possibly rot.

[GradySailfish]

I just rebuilt a 78' 20 Master Angler. There is no coring in the hull sides...just glass. It might be rather thin on the sides of the hull above the waterline to the gunnel cap. Originally they used woven roven and put carpet material over it on the inside of the boat.

Balsa coring however was used extensively throughout the boat. The deck, tank coffin cover and topcap, are cored with balsa. The transom is plywood.

On my boat the rot was so bad I had to replace all the balsa and the transom.

But the hull sides should be fine.

If you have questions, please don't hestitate to contact me. I know those MA's inside and out....literally!

[JohnB]

I’m considering buying a 1976 Master Angler and I noticed that when I push on the sides of the boat (between the transom and the center console) it seems to have a lot more flex than the other 20’ MA’s and SF’s I’ve looked at. What could be causing that? Is it just thin fiberglass or has the coring rotted? Does it even have coring there?

There is no coring in those areas, but what sometimes happens is that the cap/liner/hull connection which is just screws behind the rubwell separates/loosens. Once this happens, you get a lot more flex in the sides. This is a common, but realtively cheap/easy thing to fix.

[1bayouboy]

My '74 Tsunami has balsa coring in the upper half of the hull sides....i can tell what the total area is, but where the previous owner put a through hull to drain a bait tank
it's definitely cored.

[1bayouboy]

Meant..."I can't tell" the total area that's cored....

[Bigshrimpin]

JohnB is right on . . . it's the deck cap/hull joint. The glass is thin and needs to be pulled tight as a drum to stiffen up on the MA. If you go through the process . . . 5200 the seem and screws . . . once it's dried and use a layer of 1708 tape/epoxy to button up the seem permanently.