: Elsewhere -- especialy in surfboard
: manufacturing -- there's a new initiative in the use of bamboo to cover
: the foam form.

How would that be attached? and in what shape is the bamboo formed?

: I, on the other hand, have always used bamboo to make my large sculptures
: from polystyrene. In part I was interested in the resin/fibreglass skin as
: a new way to do many things I make -- including this kayak I have in mind.

: I employ long bamboo skewers to "nail" the polystyrene together and
: strengthen the pieces. Painted with glue, these nails are easily inserted
: wherever I want to support any number of different structural features.
: Once I finish the joining and get my shape I simply break off the ends
: that extend out of the foam. . . .The only drawback is that later when I trim and scupt
: with my hot wire I can keep running into the skewer and have to keep
: shortening it.

Sounds like a job for a heavy-duty nail clipper. Is the glue that you use completely waterproof, or just water resistant?

: Here's my question/hypothesis: IF i make my kayak the same way I expect the
: finished shaped foam to be significantly stronger than either balsa or
: straight foam. Insome aspects it could be stronger than a kayak with a
: stringer as the skewer mesh can work as a strengthening skeleton.

A tremendous amount of that strength is going to depend on the orientation of the bamboo skewers.
: Can I avoid fibreglassing this craft? Will asimple resin application do?

The only way a simple resin coat ould work is if all your joints are watertight, and can't loosen up from use. A layer of even a lightweight glass cloth -- say 2 ounce fabric -- is going to bridge gaps and provide a base for the resin to cover. That takes care of small gaps. The wrap of glass cloth also serves to keep the foam from coming apart from use. It is just a big, strong, wraparound cover. A thin glass cloth surface might take less resin than uncovered foam -- depending on how deep the wells in the foam are.

: Imagine the possiblility of running the skewers structurally into the foam at
: transverse angles to the skin so as well as internal struts running
: forward and aft, there is this medial support imbedded in the foam.

OK, I'm having a hard time imagining exactly what angles you'll be impaling your foam. Any chance you can post a picture or sketch?

PGJ