: I built a strip planked cedar racing dinghy a couple of years ago. I'm
: thinking about building another one this coming winter but the price of
: profiled cedar strip supplied by one of the main marine timber merchants
: here in the UK has practically doubled!

: I was therefore wondering whether it would be possible to use balsa instead
: of cedar as the core material? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who
: may have tried this. If it is a realistic possibility, I'd be particularly
: keen to find out what balsa thickness/glass specification might give me
: similar properties to 6 oz glass cloth on 1/4 inch cedar strip.

Balsa is usually used in endgrain blocks. Used stripwise it needs somewhat heavy laminates because of its softness. Sailing dinghies used to be made in end grain balsa twenty years ago it gives a strong and stiff sandwich but needs to be sealed well on all sides, use of good epoxy strongly recommended.

TLM

: Thanks

: Marcus