Lumber help

[Bcone1381]

I will be starting my first kayak in a few weeks...a Cast-a-way. My knowledge and skills will be tested, and it is starting out choosing lumber. I looked up a very good source of lumber, and the softwoods they are offering at less than $5 a board foot are Northern Pine, Southern Yellow Pine, Aeromatic Red Cedar, Cypress, and Hemlock.

Some other softwoods are priced at up to $10/bd ft include western red cedar, Douglas fur, and Sitka Spruce. Alaska Yellow Cedar is $17/bd ft.

Sitka Spruce has the highest strength to weight ratio of any wood (hence the Spruce Goose) The grading I selected for this post I think was pretty high. Anyway, what should I know before I go to the lumber yard? I would rather put a few extra bucks into the lumber than look for a bargain that's really not a bargain. I like the fact that the spruce was available in lengths that would not require splicing.

http://www.theworkbench.com/softwood.php

[Kudzu]

I would go for the cypress, it is an easy to work work and very rot resistant. If I could get it here that is what I would use.

WRC is a good choice but no better than cypress (assuming both are good quality) and it what I use just because it is all I can find.

 

What about plywood? That is usually the problem wood.

[Bcone1381]

I like cypress then!

Regarding Plywood, I have been more of a lurker here more than an active participant over the past six months. Plywood has been recently discussed, and answers given to a fellow Michigander. I have seen both BB 1088 and Russian Birch plywood products listed at a lumber yard an hour away. I also feel a bit more educated about the plywood since reading the plywood post and the FAQ's.

[Kudzu]

Glad to know the forum is working!

[Aethyr]

There is a good place for Baltic Burch plywood in Kalamazoo if you are on this side of the state: Elenbaas Hardwood. They also had clear WRC in 16' boards that they ripped for me for no extra charge for stringers. The WRC was special order, arrived the next day.

[Bcone1381]

Andrew, Thank you for the tip.  I just looked them up on the web.

 

Brooks

[Bcone1381]

I visited L.L.Johnson lumber in Charlotte, MI today. They fixed me up with a couple 16 foot long Cyprus 1x6's, and a sheet of 12mm BS1088 marine plywood. I paid some extra milling fees, and had them rip and mill the boad the correct dimensions. In feel like a couple days ahead not having to do scarf joints, or move the table saw from the basement up to garage in order to handle the long lumber.

[P Doug (WA)]

Glad you got your lumber, now the fun can begin.  What are you using for a strongback to build it on?  I used old discarded plywood to make mine out of, but if I do another I will build a better one.  I like the ones they make out 1x6's or whatever the width is.  The ones they fasten at the ends and them use spacers to bow it out. 

[Bcone1381]

Strongback? I built the stands and according to the Kayak Building book by Jeff Horton. I used 1x6 pine, two are 10 footers, and two are 8 footers. Eight screws at the joint hold the boards together fit this 17 foot long beam. The stands are made out of 1x4 pine, and are also built in accordance to Jeff Horton's plans.

[Hirilonde]

When in doubt, following the instructions can be a good alternative. 

[P Doug (WA)]

Yep that is the kind of SB I want to make if I build another.  

[Bcone1381]

I am either following directions or being a copy cat!

[Kudzu]

I copied the idea from Born.... Thompson?  So welcome to the club.