Just getting started (kind of)

[CaptainTtwo]

Ok I have about a thousand questions but I guess you need to start somewhere so I will start with
just a few.


I am about two to three years away from buying a boat. The size range is from 35-53 feet with
a target of 38-44 feet.The bigger numbers are if I do this Instead of the house and the smaller
numbers mean that I would keep the house.


I think that I will end up getting an old boat for money reasons and this brings me to my first question?
Baltic Haylas Valiant Amel Catalina Kalik Island-Packet H.R. Tayana Are just some of the boats
that I am looking at .


So the question is WHAT ABOUT THAT DREEDED BALSA/? I have heard and read that It can be
a real nightmare to fix balsa decks and balsa hulls.


My initial gut feel “not based on fact” is that I may be OK to deal with a bad balsa deck but that
I should stay away from balsa hulls and balsa hulls above the water-line.


To be honest most of the boats I like seem to have balsa involved in their construction and I have
heard or read that It is usually stronger than other construction methods?
In order to not get to complicated “yet,”lets just pretend all the boats I am intrested in are 40
foot long. If I want to be sure the deck balsa is OK HOW MUCH will that cost ?
If I want to make sure the Hull balsa is ok how much?
If I want to make sure the balsa is ok on a boat with balsa above the water line how much is that?


And In each of the three cases above what dose it cost to fix the problem really well ;if the
problem is really bad?

[beaucoupbateau]

Amel are wonderful boats. You can ask many owners of all models of Amels (Mango, Maramu, Sharki, Super Maramu even the new 54) if they experience any balsa core problems at Yahoo Groups --> search amelyachtowners. I believe 400+ 53 foot Super Maramus were built from 1989 to around 2006--C'est magnifique!

Video on Amel boatyard tour (balsa deck construction shown) also at blip.tv (beta) --> Chantiers Amel yard tour