Sorry MJ -
I didn't mean to step on yah . . .
I actually tried it once with terrible results, after a little searching around I learned the hard way that it was a "no no" to use HDPE or starboard as a core material.
It makes sense now that I look back on the situation. *Nothing stains starboard . . . doesn't absorb any liquid. *It's very heavy dense plastic. * Because it's so dense the resin has nothing to bond to. *Even if you skuff up starboard with 80 grit paper the resins still can't penetrate the surface. *
With wood the resins can penetrate into the wood like roots. *The more deep roots you have into the core - the more difficult it will be to rip the skin off the core material. * Those skins and the thickness of the core are what give the laminate it's stiffness and strength. *
Here's a pic of the underside of the seacraft deck . . . you can see how they used the plywood pieces as a core material in the layup of the deck. *
Here's a contender's (balsa core? - I think)
