Re: Engine mount core material
I would try glassing in some aluminum I beam. never done it before but don't know why it couldn,t be done.. what I have done before is wrapped a 4x4 with wax paper, set it on a work bench and then glassed 3 sides of it to about 3/8 inch thick.. then removed the 4x4 after it dried. now I have a 3 foot long 3 sided box that I cut to fit the boat and then glass it into the boat.. install motor mounts with bolts, washers, and nuts instead of lags..no more wood to rot again....
Good point, although I personally would make it thicker depending on the weight of the engine.
The strength comes from the glass anyway, so an aluminum I-beam may be overkill, not to mention expensive and too rigid.
I'm using 4x pieces of dimensional lumber epoxied together for the core, cut to fit the hull angle, bedded in peanut butter, filleted, then glassed down with roving and a final layer of UV protective glass/epoxy. The lag bolt holes will be pre-drilled wide, then filled with peanut butter to seal against water intrusion.
Erik
