DarbukaDave Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 Hello everybody! I'm starting my build of the crawfish tandem here in North Alabama. My question is about using kiln-dried sassafras for stringer material. I know it is a very rot-resistant material that has traditionally been used for boat building, so I guess my question is whether or not anyone knows of a reason NOT to use it? I know it's heavier, but I don't think it's too much of a concern since these designs are so light anyway. I didn't find anything here on the forum, and the fact that there is a canoe design named Sassafras makes internet searching somewhat more complicated. The reason I would like to use it is that there is a place here I can get extremely clear, straight grained sassafras with very few knots for 3.50/bdft! I will still have to scarf it for length, but it would save me a whole bunch of scarfing out knots. Thanks! -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 My questions is where you found the wood?? I love sassafras and haven't seen any for sale in a long time. I used it for a braces on a swim platform on my Chris Craft and 20 years latter they are as good as the day I put them in. I would love to have some on in the storage rack or future use. I think the biggest issue would be the increased weight and like you I don't think that is going to be a big deal. It could be calculated pretty easily, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarbukaDave Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 http://www.hobbyhardwoodalabama.com/ In New Market. Only open on Saturdays, wood all kiln dried. His wood really is as good as it looks on the website. It's most all skip-planed to 15/16ths so you have a bit of waste in 1 inch stringers I guess, but the price can't be beat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarbukaDave Posted April 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2017 Yesterday I made up what were going to be gunwhales out of some of the sassafras I already had, mostly to test out my scarf jig. I noticed a couple of tiny pinholes, which I was told are from a boring beetle and would not affect the strength, but tonight I decided to break them anyway as a test for my peace of mind. With titebond 3, cured 24 hours, I bent a 16 foot scarfed gunwhale until it broke, nowhere near the joint. I kept trying to get the joint to give up and I couldn't, also couldn't get a failure near/across the pinhole. I am satisfied, and will be buying the rest of my stringer material tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted April 22, 2017 Report Share Posted April 22, 2017 People alway thing scarf are hard to make and will break. I have never had one fail once on the boat. Never had a joint break that was properly done. Actually I don't think I have ever had one fail at all. It occurred to me that it was probably Hobby Hardwood. I am headed his way soon to see if his white oak is suitable for my Chris Craft ribs. Never looked at what else he had so I will probably pick up some sassafras when I get up there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarbukaDave Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 I have another question, now that I'm on to really processing stringers: can I get away with 15/16ths instead of 1 inch for the stringers? I am looking at how much waste there is in cutting down the 15/16ths dimension to 5/8ths and it really is a bunch. This stock is all 1/16th under an inch, and I don't know enough to know if that's a critical amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kudzu Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 If you adjust the frame notches for a snug fit I don't think it will be problem since you are using sassafras. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarbukaDave Posted April 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 Great! Now I have enough for two boats! I'll start posting pics soon, assuming this weather doesn't blow me away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benhardt57 Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 Back when I was a Boy Scout, enjoying sassafras tea made from the root was always a simple pleasure around the camp fire. Does the wood smell anything like the root? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarbukaDave Posted May 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 It does! It might be a little less strong because my wood is very dry, but there's definitely no mistaking it for anything else. Smells like root beer or Dr Pepper to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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