Wood sandwich

[trimix]

For a 50' racing sailer,my idea is to use the cold moulded wood laminate technique but I would like to insert in the laminate a balsa end grain core or PVC foam.
The aim is to decrease the weight of the hull.

Is someone know if this way to do have already been used.

[Eric W. Sponberg]

Yes, Bruce Schwab's Ocean Planet was built with wood skins and, I believe, a Core-Cell (SAN foam) core. She was built in 2001 at Schooner Creek Boatworks in Oregon.

Eric

[chandler]

I had the oportunity to meet Bruce Schwab at the Maine Boatbuilders show last month...pretty cool guy

[yokebutt]

Trimix,
Steve Rander at Schooner Creek Boatworks has built several other boats in addition to Ocean Planet with the same technique, he might give you a few tips if you ask nicely.

It's a proven method, in fact, the first boat-build I ever worked on was a veneer/balsa-core Peter Norlin designed quarter-tonner my Dad was building in the winter of 1973/74 called Accent. At the time, they thought ready-made balsa-core was much too expensive, so they cut their own, then installed it with one staple in each block....... At the time I was five years old and my sister four, we were each given a pair of pliers, then we went around and pulled out all the staples we could reach.

The boat went on to win the Quarter-ton cup that year in Malmö, Sweden, molds were taken and the boat was put in production.

Growing up in a boat yard was a unique experience, I thoroughly recommend it.

Yokebutt.

[chandler]

Besides it's obvious lightweight what exactly does balsa core do??

[yokebutt]

Chandler,
Have a look at DIAB's website for a primer on cores. (divinycell)

Yokebutt.

[chandler]

You have a website addy??

[yokebutt]

Google diab.

Y.