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Hope someone can help me out on this,I have recently purchased a 77 Vulture hull and have the floor board out,
I have noticed alot of talk of balsa core. What is the purpose of the balsa core? for floatation or structure or both? I notice in my boat the core looks like a big sheet of a woven type fiberglass. It is peeling up from where it meets the edge top side and down towards the bottom over the top edge of the stringers. Do I Need to replace this area with Balsa?? or?

Thanks,
Darcy
From Ontario, Canada

Welcome to the forum Darcy.

The core witch is made of bulsa from the factory is one of the main structural components of the hull. There is a layer of fiberglass on the bottom of the hull then a layer of 1/2" bulsa then another layer of fiberglass over the bulsa. This sandwich of materials provides a strong yet flexible structure while keeping weight to a minimum.

What you are seeing is the laminates delaminating. You need to replace the core, weather it be with bulsa or a composite material is a personal choice. I did my viper in bulsa but will be doing my vking in composits.

This thread might help answer some questions. http://hydrostreamforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=373

Thanks for your advice Chet.

Darcy, welcome to the forum. I am in the middle of the process you are about to start. My thread should give you a real good idea of what you are getting into. Like Chet, I also chose Balsa. Feel free to ask any questions you have. Chances are, I've been there already. Also, post some pictures. Love to see what the boat looks like as well as any shots off the inside and any floor/core that is exposed. This is my second Vulture. It will be a big project, but when you are done, you will not be disappointed. As you will see, I have posted lots of pictures along the way, in my post. Also, what area of the country are you from? Bill

http://www.hydrostreamforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=373

Welcome! I am in the middle of replacing the core and transom in my 77 Vulture as well and am still very new at this myself.

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same here
i did come across this site with some good info and pics
http://www.balsacore.com/
looks like balsa is way better than foam
i'm going with wood

I to am going with bulsa for 2 reasons. It's what was originally what was used and when done right will last 5 times longer than originally done and has been used for years and still is to this day so its a tried and true product and second is cost. It's much cheaper then composit materials.

Hope to really get my boat knocked out this weekend so watch my resto thread.

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hydrostream76 wrote:same here
i did come across this site with some good info and pics
http://www.balsacore.com/
looks like balsa is way better than foam
i'm going with wood

HeHeHe I didn't lol. Welcome reeser and we want pics!!!!!!!

Bill im from Kingston, Ontario. I will be using balsa for the core as well. Just got a windshield and rail from hydrostream canada. This project is going as the funds come in haha but I will definiatly post some pics soon for everyone to see.

Sounds great. Get ripping out the old as soon as you can. The ripping out of the old is easy on the budget and give you lots to think about at night when you hit the pillow. I have a few teenagers that really helped. also, just a suggestion, but I started in the middle and worked my way to the front and back and was sorry. It left me doing under the bow with the structure in the middle already out and I ended up feeling like spiderman as I did under the bow and stern. If you can still lay in the middle while remove the tuff stuff under the bow it would reduced time. Can't wait to see some pictures. The Vulture is a real stable riding boat. You should really like it when completed. I've been working on mine for 13 months now. I was convinced I would be done by June but didn't want to cut corners to get it done this summer. Decided to take the summer off and start again here in the fall. Working in the cooler weather is the way to go. Sweat and fiberglass dust are a real nasty combo. Bill