Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Water Models / January 2009

balsa wood is very light but not strong at all

Balsa absorbs water pretty quickly, unless you coat it in some sort of
water resistant chemical or solution (a good one mind you) Its not
generally recommended. Hard woods generally make better boat building
supplies (even for model boats).

YOu can make a boat out just about anything that floats.

I always use balsa wood and ordinary Waterproof white glue, for extra
stenght I use brownpaper on the outside... and waterproofing whit
celolose dope.
Vorks whit speedboats and "ordenary"

tm_shamrock;2758 Wrote:

Just a note on that, make sure you do both sides at the same time or
you migth find a bit of funky warping of the timber.  Dope shrinks as it
dries and will give you a halfpipe if only applied to one side.
You can also use talcum powder mixed into the dope that acts as
filler.
Old skool methods are awesome!!!!

I will also add that balsa is a great building tool however as has been
pointed out, probably not a good idea for the internal combustion type
craft.  It is great for smaller electric boats that run brushless and
lipo but should be coated in epoxy with fibreglass for strength.  I know
first hand what happens to a balsa boat when it crashes at over 40mph.
Thankfully it wasn't a total loss but expensive all the same.