Subject: Re: [baidarka] Wood Choices
From: Peter Chopelas (pac@premier1.net)
Date: Mon Dec 10 2001 - 22:37:43 EST
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Haynes" <jartist@yahoo.com>
To: <baidarka@paddlewise.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: [baidarka] Wood Choices
John Haynes asks:
> how's spruce?
>
What kind? the various species vary quite a lot in properties. Sitka
spruce was popular with boat builders I think because long strait grain
pieces were once readily available for both ship building, and later for
wood aircraft airframes. It has one of the better strength to weight
ratios, but it has little resistance to rot (actually not that much of an
issue if the frame is finished and you store the kayak out of the weather).
Sitka is a bit costly, other types of spruces vary from pretty good to
pretty poor.
Frankly I would not worry too much about it, pick what ever you like, and
what ever is cheapest. Go to a large lumber yard with a sling of mixed
species lumber and pull out the clearest, lightest ones, and use it to learn
on. Anything and everything has been used to make skin boat frames (even
bamboo). Just find any reasonably light, reasonably clear lumber that is
readily available and go have fun with it. It likely will not be your last
kayak you build, and it is best just to learn and experiment on whatever is
inexpensive, serviceable, and available. You will never got to that
"perfect" kayak you keep dreaming of, so do not go to a lot of trouble
finding that "perfect" wood, both are elusive.
Peter
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