Kon Tiki Tribute Board

[Rickabilly]

Im looking to make a tribute board dedicated to my hero Thor Hyerdahl. In the 50's he proved the population of the polynesian islands originated in South America's by sailing across the pacific ocean in a raft made of balsa wood(characteristic of the south american incas). He also was the first archeaologist to study Easter Island. So anyway I am looking to build this board, I know a solid balsa board would never work, but i was wondering what you guys think of laminating slabs(too look like a raft) of balsa on the top and bottom. My concern is that balsa i brittle and might snap with flex, But if it is laminated to the other plys and glassed do you think it would hold up?

[mauiskategeezer]

I'd do it from a thin ply core, say 1/4"... and then I'd glu-lam some papyrus reeds to the deck. Press and clamp them on there with resin, then fill the voids with resin and add a layer of glass. The texture would be enough to negate the use of griptape, and it would be a very unique creation.

Thor would be proud. You could even bind the reeds together before clamping...

[CC]

Yeah !! Love to See it when your done!! If Yer into Tiki .I carve those too !
Check out Tiki By CC www.tikiroom.net

[Rickabilly]

Yea cc polynesia is my other obssession. I collect mugs, exotica rcords and the rest. I posted on the occupation website a while ago to ask you about you carving, you must not have seen it but any way this is what i posted "CC i saw earlier that you carve tikis, . Im looking for two 4' poles in kind of a bug eyed marquesean style for the support posts on my bar, do you think you could do something along those lines?
any way ill be shure to post pics when i get around to puttin this thing together.

[CC]

Sorry Rickabilly,
"dint C yer responce ,I guess You got Yer poles already ? & Yes I can/could have done 'em!I collect Tiki tikimugs ,surfboards etc. too