Toad

Barry Pyeatt - Thanks for the info. I have read the Glen L site you refered to many times. The main problem is the woods they list are not available in our area. I realize that if I want good plywood I will need to have it shipped. I cannot drive three hours to pick up lumber. It either has to be delivered or sold close by. I will have to make do with the lesser of two evils. I think I will go with the best ponderosa pine I can find for the frames and the best plywood I can afford to have shipped to me. I built a small 8ft boat some years ago using Ponderosa Pine, now that I think back I was kinda impressed with it. Had forgotten about it till I dug out the photo album. The main thing will be protecting the boat from the sun. This is a weekend type skiff and will be on a trailer. I'm pretty sure I will use ST GelMagic for the glue. I talked with the manufacturer and came away impressed. I will glass only the outside of the skiff.

I live in Huachuca City, Arizona. I think I will go with marine grade as I really don't have a choice. If you saw the quality of plywood available here you would have nightmares for life. If I owned a mill I would be ashamed to sell it. The birch looks great but I think it is interior stuff. For dimensional lumber I have the whopping choice of some unknown variety of pine and maple, or poplar.....Back in Washington I never had a problem with wood as fir was everywhere. I love fir. Even the exterior plywood was pretty good stuff. Built a few boats out of it with very good results. In rural Arizona things are more of a challenge. Even the choice of glue has me wondering. I want one that can stand up to high heat. The sun here really does a number on any type of exposed wood and sometimes it is not possible to keep a boat covered. I guess I need to start getting my ducks in a row and make some choices. For the framing I guess either the pine, maple or poplar would work but the plywood is going to be the most critical component of the boat. On that I just can't scrimp on. I have never build a boat using marine plywood. Always a first time ay? Has anyone ever tried poplar for boat frames? I have almost aways built stitch and glue boats and while thats great I miss working with wood that a more conventional type of boat provides. Back home I worked mostly with fir, spruce and hemlock. I cannot find it here. I know nothing about pine, maple or poplar...I ask the clerk what types of pine and maple they sell and they just look at me with a blank stare.....Have I mentioned I love fir?.......

Yeah, I think they have exterior Birch plywood. I really don't want to use Pine due to the weight. I cannot find fir down here. I will keep my eyes open.

I am about to start bulding the Sissy Do, a basic 13ft skiff from Glen L. We have no marine plywood anywhere close to my rural desert town. What we have is pine plywood and birch plywood. The Pine is horrible and heavy. Can I get away with the birch???