I am just in the process of making up a spec sheet for our 1986 35' MK111, when I ran across a section of the last survey which read, "this is a balsa core moulded fibreglass...." I've been trying to keep up with the various discussions about the many models of boats C&C had, and feel that someone out there once mentioned that the 35 was solid fibreglass. Any thoughts? Was my surveyor right??
Klaus

Klaus,
Most likely. My '82 is balsa cored thru-out. I think that you may be thinking about the hull's of the early 35's (MkI's?) My understanding, and backed up by discussions on this list is that coring was the one of C&C's early hallmarks...
Dave -- '82 37' "Ronin" - Annapolis

Klaus
Very few C&C's after the late 70's weren't balsa- cored, and I'm 99.9% sure your 35 is...hull and deck, with no core (solid) near the keel stump, around factory through hulls, and at any stress points in the deck. But, for what is the spec sheet....are you selling her?
Cheers, Greg

The 35 MK I is a solid hulled boat, but they are a decade or so older than the MK III.
Joe Della Barba

I have an '84 Mk III built in NOTL. My understanding is that the hull is balsa cored above the water line, solid fiberglass below.
Alan Bergen - "Thirsty"

My 1989 Mk111 - 35' was cored to the water line and solid glass below. I believe that was the standard method of manufacture at that time. So technically your surveyor is correct.
Warren - Jazz 41AC

Warren,
Solid glass below the waterline COULD be true of your boat (wouldn't a 35 manufactured in '89 be a Mark IV, not the same as the III's made earlier in the eighties?), but it's first I've heard of any manufacturer doing such...It was not generally true of boats like the 34 and 35 Mark III, you can see the balsa core thickness around the thruhulls.. If the core weren't below the waterline, you wouldn't have to worry about it getting wet...
Tom

>I believe that - the 33 Mark I and 35 Mark I and Mark II and the 38 Mark 1 were all glass, these were early '70s designs. At least some of the 34s were cored, if not all. The other Marks and 36s and 37s were cored - I'm not sure about Landfalls. The entire hull in the in the 34s and 35s (Mark IIIs) was cored, I would guess the other models were the same.
Being C&C's, of course all these boats are great boats, however I've sailed on a friend's 33 Mark I regularily for most of twenty years, and would heartily recommend that model as a stellar design. We currently have potential interest in a 38 mark I...
Tom

Tom,
I have a 35 Mk II and have drilled a through-hull about 4 inches below the toe-rail. I can assure you it is all glass (no core).
Gary - 'Expresso' '75 C&C 35 Mk II

C&C was a pioneer in the use of balsa coring in both decks and hulls. Basically the core started a few inches from areas of high stress and stopped a few inches before hitting the next area of stress. The coring would start about 6" below the gunwale and continue either to the water line or down to within a foot of the floor timbers. On the deck it started about 6" in from the gunwale. Where stress was expected like the hull deck joint it was always solid glass. Where a thru hull was placed there would be about a 6" to 8" square cut out of the balsa and it would be solid glass. Wherever deck fittings or winches occured the balsa (not liking to be compressed) was replaced by 3/4 marine ply. If you drill in an area where C&C did not expect something to be put - you'll likely find balsa (hopefully dry balsa) If, as many on the list have said, you drill in an expected area (eg. just below the gunwale for a pump outlet) you'll find solid glass. If you tap the hull with a solid object, like the handle of a screwdriver, in areas of know solid glass and known coring, you'll hear the difference in sound and be able to tell where there is coring and where there is not.
The extent of coring varied with the size of the boat. Smaller boats tending to have little or no hull coring and some deck coring. Larger boats were extensively cored in both the hull and the deck.
Regards, - Hank Evans

Tom:
We sold our loved 35 Mk.111 a year ago and when the floor boards were removed you could see where the core stopped and the solid glass started beneath - I would estimate a difference of about 1/2" in thickness and the first owner (a former C&C employee and finishing craftsman) had carved his initials into the glass on a strut. He later described the lay-up for me and pointed out his initial. How's that for a personal touch, perhaps I should have asked for more $. HaHa..
He called it a Mk.111 but you might be right, perhaps it was a Mk.IV. In any case, she was one of the last boats out of the yard before they locked the gate, he said.
Warren

My families C&C 35 MK1 is solid below the rub rail but its a 1973 hull. Sometime in the mid 1970's I think that changed to a balsa core but not sure exactly when. Maybe others have a date.

The 34 hull is cored only below the water line.
Tom Duane - C&C34 "Chameleon"

Hi Tom,
I don't mean to be intrusive but doesn't sound quite right to me. Coring, as I understand it, strengthens the panels while reducing the weight of the structure and I would think that coring would be used above the waterline if not thru-out in C&C's effort to build a light, strong racer/cruiser in those days. Many current builders of reasonable performance cruising boats, Sabre comes to mind, use coring above the waterline and on the decks and cabin top to keep the displacement down but keep the hull solid below the waterline in an effort to reduce the possibility of water intrusion into the core. I've spent some time on a 34' and I want to say (think?) that its layup is similar to my model with coring used throughout the entire boat except where stress points, thru-hulls and deck equipment are attached. On my boat it's pretty easy to determine where the core starts and stops. A little less easy is determining where there's water, hopefully none in my ship. Nonetheless, I'm no expert....
Cheers, - Dave - '82 37' "Ronin" - Annapolis

Dave,
The next time you get a chance take a look under the V-berth of a 34. There is a raised section below the water line with a definite step. Exactly the same as the step at the edge of the deck where the coring stops. I have a crew member who does surveys for a living. I get a free under water check up every year.
Tom Duane - C&C34 "Chameleon"