: Hi Tom,

: I've seen that one, actually priced balsa after reading it Also found it's
: only commonly available in 3' lengths, can you imagine how much scarfing
: that would be?

: Bill H.

If you go to the importers the balsa is brought in to most countries at rough sawn flitches 12ft long - they get docked down to the 3ft length later. The flitches are generally around 5 x 3" or something similar.

Scarfing is totally trivial at any rate - you can use some of the modeller's super glues formulated for balsa. To cut a scarf (maybe 3:1 - it is going to be glassed afterall) with a japanese saw and then hold the two pieces together and put one drop of cyanoacrylate on each face takes less time than typing this sentence - and it is immediately strong enough to cope with rough handling. No clamping - just a puff of vapour as it cures.

Another option we have just been playing with in Australia is the Chinese Timber Paulownia. A large amount is past trials for plantation growing in two states here.

Paulownia is between cedar and balsa in density with a straighter grain than cedar. A fellow in New Zealand who has been using it for some time for sea kayaks for very rough expedition use says the paulownia is a little softer when planking but seems to show little difference once glassed and in use.

Some pictures lurk here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatmik/1520177315/in/set-72157602281214723/
It is a Bear Mountain Rob Roy in Paulownia with 2oz glass - doubled on parts of bottom that might contact ground or snags. Info on Guillemot indicates that two layers of glass half the weight is more dent resistant than a single layer.

So have lightness where there is less chance of impact and add dent/impact resistance where needed only.

Hope this helps.

Michael Storer