The 1986 38-200 is a solid FRP hull. No core. There is end grain balsa core on deck but everything below the hull/deck joint is solid.
Right as usual!
I am always thankful that Ericson achieved hull stiffness with their patented internal grid scheme rather than with coring. Coring is indeed good from an engineering standpoint, but I would rather not have the potential maintenance worry in an aging hull.
If my Ericson-built Olson were cored, it would be about 2K # lighter... and a few micro-knots faster... so I'm told... :nerd:
But the overall problem with speed in my boat would still be
operator error!
As the decades add up, I'm glad that Ericson used a solid layup. As I and the boat get older, that's one less thing to worry about!
LB