hi. My PAX 20 surf ski has 4mm ply for the bottom panels and 3mm for the side panels as per the plans. I'm toying with the idea of a Chesapeake 16 surf ski for my wife and putting together a material list. Anybody have any thoughts regarding the use of 3mm ply for the side panels of a Ches? As mentioned, my PAX has the 3mm sides and I have used 2.75oz cloth on the outside. Seems plenty stiff enough to me. Abrasion resistance is not a huge issue as our beaches are sandy and pristine.
The plans call for 4mm ply, and 6 oz glass on the outside. If my memory is correct, he 14 and 14LT call for all 3mm ply and 6 oz glass. My 17LT with 4mm sides and bottom, 3 mm decks, and 4 oz glass weighs just over 40 lbs. If you don't plan on expedition style camping, oyster beds, or rocks, you probably would be O.K. Good Luck JRC.
not a problem. it will be fine structurally with 3mm
notwithstanding that it will not be as strong (but plenty strong if you are not beating it up), just pay a bit more attention when you stitch it up to make sure the hull is fair/in the shape you want. when the sheets get thinner, your ability to have a bulge or concavity increases.
h