Floor, poly, rot!

[Oldragbaggers]

I guess I find this debate a little confusing. Not that I doubt the validity of it, but the logic of it just perplexes me. People have been building plywood boats for many years, fiberglassing them inside and out, then submerging them in water and they last for years and years...... Why is it so different for a teardrop??? If something is dry when sealed, and is sealed completely inside and out where is the water in question coming from???

[Oldragbaggers]

So, can I assume then if I have completely insulated the floor and do not have an air cavity (same with the walls) then sealing inside and out should not create a problem? Of if you were using solid plywood for floor and walls, again sealing inside and out should not be a problem??

[KCStudly]

Fiberglass boat stringers and transoms (especially outboard motor transoms) are well known for rotting out. Usually it is due to drilling holes for mounting things and not adequately sealing around these penetrations. The pounding action of the sea state tends to flex and strain every little thing, much like our little trailers trundling down the road.

My boat has some issues, but then again it is 45 years old, so...

[Oldragbaggers]

If my teardrop lasts 45 years, I'll be pushing up daisies and the rot will be someone else's headache.