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[Poobah]

"Most people don't' recognize opportunity when it come knocking because it often comes wearing coveralls and looking like hard work."

-Thomas A. Edison

[doc]

Great answers, John. Thanks again-

The fiberglass backing on the balsa - ok, I saw 'scrim' listed, which I guess is a very elastic term- we use some that's very definitely not fiberglass cloth in the shellfish biz that I'm in. Good, that makes life a lot easier.

So, the mold doesn't have to be all that rugged for balsa? Almost stiff cardboard set on a few appropriately situated blocks?
Also, the process is ( oversimplified) , form the foam, glass the deck, shape the bottom and rails, glass the bottom, glass the deck? I think you explained that, just double-checking. For foam, the weights are set on top of the glass with mebbe a little wax paper or something?

The channel is pretty much a straight taper, full thickness where the nose rocker stops to zero at the tail or where it goes to just glass, more or less?

doggone, I wanna build one!

thanks

doc...............

[Solo]

Architectural grade PU foam (4`x 8`sheets), in various densities, has been widely available for many years...

Polyurethane foam:

http://www.signfoam.com/

http://www.precisionboard.com/Sign/default.htm

***

Vinyl Foam:

http://www.generalplastics.com/products/product_detail.php?pid=25

http://www.fibreglast.com/

***

Core-Cell- Structural Foam:

http://www.atc-chem.com/PGE/PR-CC-Overview.html

***

Marine foams:

http://marinefoam.com/

***

Aircraft foams:

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/gotopage.php?page=24

[John Galera]

It really is as simple as that doc. You don't even really need a mold, just a couple of pieces of wood to hold up the rail, nose, some wax paper and weights, it's how I use to make them 20 years ago, before I got all hi tech.

I'm not sure if the backing is fiberglass, when I glass it some of the strands can still be seen up close. It dosen't seem to affect the strength though.

North Shore is suppose to be 10' tommorrow with no wind, so got to get some sleep. Feel free to ask any questions, I'm happy to have someone to share with.

[John Galera]

Thanks Solo for the link to the foams. I use the 6# foam, if you use higher density, it takes more weight to bend. I once used 10 or 15 # and cracked the foam due to too much weight. I had to throw that one away.
Pretty disheartening to break a foam in the mold, after shaping and airbushing. Aloha!

[doc]

Thanks, John, I had hoped it was gonna be that easy. Easy is one of those Good Things. Enjoy the waves - right now the water temp here is close enough to freezing that I'm not even looking at the water.

And thanks for the link, Solo, I'm gonna be hearing from them or their Northeast distributor. That looks like the cat's posterior for paipos, flex kneeboard floatation and stiffener panels and a bunch of stuff for the aquaculture biz that I've been building out of wood - and that'll make some heavy items light, quick and easy. Say, a glass-foam composite chute for clams and similar stuff- wonder how well it'd work as light-duty conveyor buckets......

And, in exchange, another link:http://www.hotwirefoamfactory.com/ maker of hot-wire foam cutters. Not awfully expensive, one of the things has a bendable Nichrome wire setup so you can go right along, like a shaper or router.

I foresee an interesting summer........... lots of projects.

[tumak]

I love to see all this excitement over a new technology, and the excitement over new paipo riding possibilities. John, I think your boards look really cool, and I'm sure it's an amazing ride, especially in the big stuff! Thank you for being so sincere and giving...sharing your knowledge and experience with everyone. Happy waveriding!