: Okay, years have passed following this forum, I am very near the start of my
: first Strip boat. I usually work in composites, but honestly the boats I
: have seen here have been a source of inspiration.

: My boat will be an 18 ft modification for seakayaking of a 'new rules' 17ft
: sprint kayak. Along the lines of a Scorpion for those familiar. The boat
: will have a 16.5" max beam My forms are ready, but as yet I have not
: the strips to go ahead.

: Couple of questions: What glues are suggested to join the strips prior to
: glassing (Does it matter?). (I'll be glass outside, probably pre-preg
: carbon inside over a pro-set epoxy seal coat (that might change)).

: This will be a race boat, and in keeping with the sprint boat heart, my goal
: is to stay under 14kg (sprint boats are 12kg, I built one a while back for
: Marathon that weighs 6.9kg). Has anyone tried balsa for strips? Anything
: else exotic that's light? I'm a little intimidated by the pospect of
: working with wood....but I'll get over it. Hoping to have this in the
: water by the end of July, if not, then New Years Day 2004.... Once under
: way, a website will follow.

: Thanks in advance for any replies!

: Jeff H

I'd suggest using a thin 3/16" thick northern white cedar strips and 4 oz. S-glass fiberglass cloth.
Normally we use E-glass fiberglass cloth. S-glass cloth is about 40% stronger than E-glass and twice
as costly.

That should get you under your weight limit.

Unless you want a throw-away boat, using a very soft light-weight core
material will allow impacts to crush the core under a light-weight lay-up.

I think this may happen with balsa, but perhaps the drop of a few pounds
would be worth it to you. How expensive and available is balsa and
how it is to work with? These may be negative factors.

For more info on using thin strips see my shop tips page at:

http://www.LaughingLoon.com/shop.tips.html

all the best,

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.laughingloon.com