Average wieght of the frame with out rails

[mpatter894]

just curious I have seen alot of finished wieghts what about the frame with out the rails anyone have any idea what the average wieght is? It is my first build have the frame sitting on the rocker jig i used .75in mahoganybalsa ply on the spine its wieghs 10lbs seems alot with all the wood left to go on. I picked up 6 2x15x12 balsa planks today and im using laural for the rails I am hoping to come in at less than 40lbs how thin do you think i can get away on the decking i want to finish with 6oz e cloth and4 coats of varathane over the hot coat i have put lighting holes in the frame as much as i could

[vilanobeachsurf]

Greetings mpatter894,

I used cedar for the decks of my board and went with 1/4" and 7 oz glass. I think with cedar I can easily make it to 3/16" and that glass.

Don't know about balsa though...the density of red cedar is about 23lbs/CF and Balsa is 7-9lbs/CF. Huge difference!

With that in mind and knowing that the strength of the finished board comes from the glass I might go with 1/4" balsa slabs (over 60% weight savings there) and perhaps go with an 8-10 oz glass. Update, just read where it was recommended to only take balsa down to 3/8"

As I think about it, with the balsa being a lot lighter that the laural or mahoganybalso play and you having only 10 lbs with the spine/stringer and ribs I think you might be right on track for staying under 40 lbs. Here is a quick check...If I remember right this is an 11.5 so the weight of the two decks at 1/4" each would be about 11.5*(.5/12)* (28/12)* 9=10.06lbs. Yup, even if you went with 1/2" decks that would add 20 lbs for a total of 30 lbs before the rails, glass and verathane.

Let us know which way you go!!!