penske board for decks , what thickness?

[billythekid]

penske board for decks what thickness? also who sells it? I see jamestown dist. in Rhode Island sells it anyone in NJ?

[hermco]

Penske was purchased by some other company and is no longer in business. I used to use the Penske board in the transoms of the brackets but have had to go to Coosa because the company that bought Penske is not producing the product any longer so you are probably going to get what Jamestown has left in stock. The Penske is a high density fiber reinforced foam used primarily in transoms. If you are looking to recore decks I would suggest a 1/2" or 3/4" Divinycell foam core.

[Tashmoo2]

Hermco,

I have just cut out most of my rotted balsa core deck in '86 18 footer. My 1st thought was to just cut top layer of glass and chisel out the balsa. I found the underside layer of glass so thin that it would not hold its shape if you merely bedded the new core in it.

I then tought about using nida core because it is rigid and you can work it like plywood. I have used divinycell to replace rotten balsa below the water line in my other boat by bedding it from the inside to the outer layer.

Can you buy divinycell sheets with glass on both sides so you do not have make the panel 1st. I made some bulkheads with left over scored divinycell in the other boat and found them very heavy after the resin and cloth hardened.

[hermco]

I don't know of anyone who sells ready made laminated core material. You would probably have to make them yourself. I made some for my 20' decks. 1/2" Divinycell with a 1.5 oz. mat and two 1708 on each side.

[muddywater]

I was looking at Corecell since it can supposedly deform and bounce back to some extent, but it does seem to be more expensive than the Divinycell, about on par with Penske board.
What density do you recommend for decks in general, and do you recommend with or without the cuts? I also see several people, including Ringleader recommending Nidacore for decks on the Boat Design Forums. One last question : is 3/4" way overkill for the deck or just slightly overkill? I want this thing to be able to take a serious beating.

Thanks!!!!!

[hermco]

If you are replacing the old core whatever you decide to use should be based on getting the end result of the same thickness that was there so you end up with a flat surface.