When you deal with composites on a daily basis, that knowledge can seem commonplace. But that’s often not the case—even for partners who have used our panels for past projects. Our panels provide best-in-class use, but “use” can be an undefined catch-all. Below are some common FAQs we receive about our panels to help clear up confusion and offer tried-and-true guidance. 

Coosa Composites’ Common Panel Questions 

Q: Do I need to glass both sides of a Coosa panel?

A: While Coosa panels need no coating to prevent moisture problems, the addition of fiberglass laminates on both sides of the panel will add additional deflection strength. If you are replacing the decking on a boat, and the original plywood core was laminated on both surfaces, we would recommend doing the same with Coosa panels.

Q: Which panel should I use for flooring?

A: Coosa’s Bluewater panels are designed to be used in load bearing applications. The Bluewater 26 is the strongest and stiffest panel we offer, and it is designed to replace plywood of the same thickness. Bluewater 20 may also be a candidate for flooring, but this depends on the supporting structure as well as the spans between supports. If you are replacing an existing floor, you should use the same thickness as the original flooring.

Q: Can I laminate two pieces of Coosa together to achieve desired total thickness?

A: Coosa panels may be laminated together with structural resins (polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy resins) to achieve the desired thickness. It is common practice to place a layer of glass between the panels, but not necessarily a requirement. 

Q: What should I use to replace the deck on my pontoon boat?

A: We strongly recommend using our Bluewater 26 panel in ¾” thickness for pontoon decking. If you are installing pedestal chairs or tables, these should be installed with either a backing plate or nuts and bolts with large washers under the flooring. Never use lag screws alone to attach pedestals to pontoon decking. 

Q: Can I bend Coosa panels for my application?

A: Thinner Coosa panels have some amount of flexibility, and can be bent to a certain extent over a wide radius. Tight bends are generally not possible without kerfing the back side of the panel radius. Thicker panels will be more difficult to bend and are generally intended to be used in a flat posture—but may be able to be slightly bent over the full length of the panel or kerfed. If a tighter radius is needed, as well as thickness, then it would be best to layer two thinner panels over the arc desired or kerf a thicker panel.

Still have further composite or product-related questions or questions about us? We’re here to answer them. Contact us for specialized support that meets your application and industry needs time and again.