Recent studies show that water actually penetrates through fiberglass, freezing in winter and eventually delaminating the multilayer cores. Now, it is recommended that all fiberglass boats have long haul out periods for reduction of osmotic penetration.
MAINTENANCE
Boats built with the Cutts Method never need caulking and can be cosmetically maintained quickly and easily with a light sanding and painting. Fiberglass is subject to blistering and delamination, producing a pH acid causing deterioration of the internal structural material. In fact, it is now suggested that fiberglass boats should not be stored in the water for long periods of time.
COST A custom designed and built boat using the Cutts Method is less expensive than the same custom designed boat built in fiberglass. When building a custom wooden boat, the Cutts Method is easier, quicker, less wasteful and messy and therefore, more cost efficient.
BEAUTY/WARMTH
The beauty of a wood boat, naturally finished in sparkling varnish or brilliant paint, is incomparable to any other product on the market. Wood boats are comfortably inviting, they insulate against heat, cold and noise, and they better absorb engine and other unwanted vibrations. The fiberglass boats are plain, almost sterile-looking. Colored fiberglass fades rapidly, and over time, almost always needs to be painted.
STRENGTH
A Cutts Method boat is stronger for its weight than those built of other methods. Light weight translates into higher hull speeds, better ballast ratios, lower materials cost and easier building. The structural design advantages allow strength increase. Cord spacing, groove and cord dimensions and attachment techniques combine to produce beautiful and artistic structures, each part in compatible function with the rest. A Cutts Method boat never has blisters, no dry-out problems, no pH acid production between glass lay-up voids and no gel-coat crazing. If yours is a fiberglass boat, you will face these problems eventually. With the Cutts Method there is no hull electrolysis, no continuous use problem, no acids, voids or laminate separation.
REPAIR
Repairing a Cutts-built boat is simple, quick and does not require additional boat building skills to do the work. The finished repair is undetectable and is far less expensive than repairing fiberglass. Fiberglass repairs almost always need to be done by and expert, they are costly, messy and seldom match the original boat.
RELIABILITY OF WOOD BUILT BOATS
Wood boats have a proven track record. Many wood yachts built in the 1920’s and 1930’s are still cruising today. Woods such as cedar, teak, etc. last indefinitely if metallics are eliminated and correct structural design is adhered to. A Cutts-built boat is constructed to eliminate leakage, decay and electrolysis. Fiberglass boats have only been around for a relatively short time, and are already delaminating, blistering, oxidizing and continuously producing spider cracks in gel coats which eventually deteriorate the finish and the structure.
