3 replies to this topic

[mdavis121212]

Hello

In the Assembly manual for the Firefly you don't seem to mention anything about wood grain for the stringers and gunwales. Before I got the Firefly kit I was looking into building a Greenland kayak and they seemed to be very particular that you got "flat grained" wood. That is difficult to find where I live. So are the Kudzu gunwales stringers more forgiving when it comes to that?

[pakalolo]

I think they are comparing verticle grain an flat grain. What region do you live in? In Maine we use primarily white cedar . . . . out west they'll use red cedar . . . . but I've definitely used vertical grain dug fur for a 30ft clamp (similar to inwale) before so you'll probably be fine as long as everything gets lashed together. What are your options?

[Kudzu]

Most wood you buy is flat grained. Maybe I should talk more about this but I have never had a problem with stringers.

I use Western Red Cedar for mine. I pick the best looking boards, cut out the knots with a scarf cut and glue them back together. The only problem I have ever had as been a stringer that didn't bend in a fair curve. In those cases I used another one and cut that that up for use as short stringers or just cut out the bad section and glued another piece in to get it back to length.

[P Douglass (WA)]

Looks like you have your answers, but wanted to welcome you to the forum. I'm sure your well enjoy the build, Feel free to post lots of pictures as you progresss, we love pictures. I built the curlew. My first attempt ever at building something like this and it was one of the most fun and rewarding projects I have done. So much so, that I have purchased the material to build another this winter. This time I am going to build the FreeB 14 Jeff provides plans for on hus site.