So I bit the bullet and actually ordered the laser cut frames from Stevens Aeromodel. If you buy from them then you have select the frames that match the thickness that you plan to plank the sides with. The options are 3/32" or 1/16". I opted for the 3/32" frames. Since there are really no other Star 45's around here I'm not toooo concerned about building the lightest boat out there.
Right now I'm planning on strip planking the sides and bottom with cedar that I'll mill myself. Cedar is light but not as light as the balsa that they suggest in order to get the lightest boat. I'd prefer to have a slightly heavier boat that looks good. Also, cedar, although light and soft, is much tougher than balsa, so one layer of 1.4 oz. fiberglass on the hull will be plenty to protect it. In addition, by using cedar I should have a more rounded hull shape. Balsa is so soft that you can actually bend the wood too sharply around the frames and risk having a boat that isn't too fair. The cedar should allow for a pretty fair hull so long as I select good sticks to mill.
Fair winds!
Right now I'm planning on strip planking the sides and bottom with cedar that I'll mill myself. Cedar is light but not as light as the balsa that they suggest in order to get the lightest boat. I'd prefer to have a slightly heavier boat that looks good. Also, cedar, although light and soft, is much tougher than balsa, so one layer of 1.4 oz. fiberglass on the hull will be plenty to protect it. In addition, by using cedar I should have a more rounded hull shape. Balsa is so soft that you can actually bend the wood too sharply around the frames and risk having a boat that isn't too fair. The cedar should allow for a pretty fair hull so long as I select good sticks to mill.
Fair winds!
Comments
Post a Comment
Please feel free to leave comments regarding building a Star 45.