: I see that the same old comments about foam as a viable core for a kayak are
: still floating about on the forum, with the same limited understanding of
: how the material would be used. It's more than amusing to read, but it is
: functionally incorrect.

Chris - if you know something the rest of us don't about foam core, could you fill me in? I am planning on prototyping a kayak this spring using Divinycell H80 foam in strip form (variable width, ~1" by 3/8" thick). Build method will be the same as a wood strip-built kayak, possibly with some of the forms retained and glassed in place. I'm looking for a fast build and the ability to fair it quickly and aggressively during testing. I may not glass the outside right away, waiting until the shape is optimized. The finished hull would get glass (or kevlar or carbon) on the outside. I don't see how this is functionally incorrect - am I missing something? If so, please advise before I blow the time and money. I've been running these ideas past a colleague who is a working naval architect (mostly sailboats), and he hasn't steered me away from foam core yet. I agree wood is probably best, but not always called for.

Thanks, Carl