Think POSITIVELY - no wonder you had a New Zealander running you space programme!

Two things, there's always a bit of truth in satire; satire sometimes makes some people think.

Unknown materials - fibreglass was at one time an unknown boating material. Hey, one of the most ridiculous materials to use for ships would be iron or steel especially in a marine environment - it rusts madly, if you rivet it, it will leak between plates, if you weld it, it will crack - everyone knows that (?). I added plastic because of the comment about NOT using used (recycled) materials.

So, what about people thinking, thinking HOW? What I've heard so far is a bit like Dennis Conner complaining when we were going to use a different material from him in our Americas Cup yacht (and yes, we won it), “we must be cheating”. Him forgetting that all Americas Cup yachts were originally built of wood, not fibreglass or aluminium. But that's Dennis.

Cardboard - questions, what form is it in? Foam, we're told it is in the form of coolers? How much foam available? Someone has mentioned using the right glue for foam. At least one positive comment. I'd mentioned the kayak prototype I'd seen was by Rod Mack - round bilge, monocoupe form rather than flat panels. Added strength. How should layers of cardboard be joined? PVA? Not water proof but strippers use it so yes, it can be used if sealed. What about using varnish between layers of cardboard? The cheapest available which you can't use outdoors because not it's UV rated. It isn't on the outside of the hull so that's OK.

Cardboard, used correctly, won't sink or fall apart as soon as it sees water. The question asked, and surely there's someone here, what is the best way to use the material?

It might, after all the options, turn out to be more costly or too heavy compared with other materials available to the questioner. OK, at least it should be possible to actually SHOW that. Plywood usually has a coat of epoxy. So could/should cardboard? A goodly layer of enamel paint might also be suitable. Epoxy is possibly half the price of a ply boat's materials. Does that make cardboard a cheaper option? By how much?

YES, it can be done and it will work OK,...IF...

Alex