:confused0006::confused0024::damnmate:

 

Tis true!

"Despite all the fancy materials used elsewhere, a balsa-wood composite is still used for the Corvette's floor. Don't be too critical, though - the material simply needs to act as a spacer between the two "skins", and balsa's mechanical characteristics and light weight make it perfect for this task."

http://m.autoblog.com/2008/01/14/detroit-2008-corvette-zr1-chassis-display/

I have heard the Ford floorboard thing for years although i heard it was the Model T
I have also heard that it is an urban legend....who knows!

 

Balsa

For those of you that don't know about the floor story for Model T, Ford couldn't supply enough engines so they had Chevrolet build some for them. They specified exactly how the crates were to be assembled, right down to the size of each board. Chevrolet was curious about this, snuck in a spy and found they were using the crates for floor boards. I know because I was there.

Joe:sign0020:

 

For those of you that don't know about the floor story for Model T, Ford couldn't supply enough engines so they had Chevrolet build some for them. They specified exactly how the crates were to be assembled, right down to the size of each board. Chevrolet was curious about this, snuck in a spy and found they were using the crates for floor boards. I know because I was there.

Joe:sign0020:

"I know because I was there" !!!!!!!

Awesome Joe! You were there when the built Tin Lizzies??? Wowzers!!

:beer:

:congrats::congrats::congrats::congrats::congrats:

 

learned something new today Thanks Mike

 

learn something everyday, thanks. :tu

 

floors

C 5 is also balsa wood

 

This method is/was also used in lite weight sail boats. Once the glass was formed over the balsa core extremely strong.

I had one of the first ultra lite sail boats a way back in calif. 27 foot boat 3200 lbs. A ral screamer. Boat rated out at 38 feet. Scary ride down wind in heavy air. A real butt squeezer.

 

They used balsa core in a lot sailboats. Biggest problem is if fiberglass is damage the core can become saturated with water and rot.

My 1972 Bristol 28 has some soft spots in the balsa core deck. Maybe the found way the seal the balsa core better.

 

You would have to crack the hull not just a glancing blow. Damage that bad it's going to hauled out and repaired. Workmanship plays a big part of any boat glass work. Gel coat damage, not repaired causes a lot boats to hit the scrap yard.

There are a ton of glassed boats that had not been layed up properly. They end up blistering. Water under the gel-coat. That's a mess to repair.

 

Most balsa core decks on boats water damage come from deck fitting fasteners and the fasteners use to attach the deck to the hull. Water leaks in around the fasteners getting the core wet.

Most Boats I have seen with blisters were laid up with polyester resin. Boat manufactures switch to polyester resin in the late 70's due the increase cost of Epoxy resins.
My B28 was laid up with Epoxy resins and roving woven fiberglass, Never have any blisters in hulls that used Epoxy resins.
I saw one boat build in 80's build with polyester resin that the bottom was covered with blisters the size of eggs.

 

Lots of uses

The only balsa wood I have known about before this was in my box kites I flew 55 years ago. Apparently there a lots of uses for balsa!

:anim_26:

Anyone know what makes a box kite fly??