Buying lumber for a CS17 build

[Andy Woerner]

Our 17 year old son came to us and asked if he could build a small sailboat and we've just taken deliver of the CS17 kit.

 

Next is to buy some lumber, starting with the cockpit stringers.  We're heading to Capitol City Lumber in Raleigh, NC, hoping to find some clear, vertical grain douglas fir... but being new to this kind of wood working, I have to admit, I don't know a good piece of wood from a bad one.  Anyone have pictures of imperfect but acceptable fir for this task?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Oyster]

If you are looking for some quality fir, in long lengths and cannot find what you want, Atlantic Veneer in Newport N.C. has some of the finest stock. My last purchase was 2 x 6 x 24 foot long.. You can pick your needs in grain orientation. 

[Steve W]

In in Rochester, NY. The only place I've been able to find DF is at a lumberyard (not big box) that sells it for flooring. 12' lengths of beautiful stock. May be worth a few calls if you have trouble.

[Don Silsbe]

Many builders use clear pine.  The big box lumber stores, at least in NC, carry a lot of beautiful, clear pine in varying lengths.  There are two species if wood intermixed in the rack.  One is almost white, while the other is more orange and tiger-striped.  Use the tiger-striped stuff.

 

If you want fir, there is a hardwood store in a small town to the east of the tri-city area.  It has an odd name.

https://hardwoodstore.com

[Hirilonde]

Don, they mix Eastern White Pine and Southern Yellow Pine together?

 

If so, then yeah, use the SYP.

[Nick C]

Look at the labeling. Tags on the lighter color perfectly clear pine probably say product of New Zealand or Chile and it is Pinus radiata (Monterrey pine) from pruned stands. SYP has obvious grain and will have a SPIB grade stamp.