Strip building is a version of a technique called cored-fiberglass laminate. Building with strips has a devilishly ingenious benefit. The wooden core is also the mold for the hull.Plus the wooden strips help increase the hulls stiffness and resistance to penetration. If you build a marine-foam/glass laminate hull you must use more glass because the foam has less stiffness than wood and it is more easily penetrated. The one thing the core material must do is survive the flexations the hull encounters. If you use a material like foam building insulation the foam will crumble if the boat is subjected to hard use. So, no cardboard, no minicell, no building insulation.......well, you get the picture.
Marine foam panels aren't talked about much because they are very pricey and require a more difficult building procedure.

: Hi,
: I wanted to ask what might be a very stupid question :/

: What reason(s) would there be to NOT use minicell as a core material
: for kayak builind? i.e., use the foam to wrap around the form stations
: and then glass over the top of that. Using the minicell instead of wood
: strips.

: Set me straight, since I can't get it out of my head that should work

: Thanks!

: Rick