Questions about wood type, quality and grain?

[Thomas Wick]

I was hoping to get some advice from this forum on boat building wood for an epoxy strip plank power boat that I am about to start buiding. I have identified a small mill operation who has Port Orford Cedar, Western Red Cedar as well as Douglas Fir. The logs, according to him, have been sitting outside and stacked at his yard for years, up to 10. He refers to them as Buck Skins, I think because they are grayed from exposure. The price is very reasonable for all species, however I am concerned about the appropriateness of these logs and how they have been handled/stored. He assures me that the lumber he will provide will be free of obvious defects that would preclude the use of the wood in the first place, no heart wood or sap wood and that it would be vertical grain. The mill owner brought up another interesting point, why use VG on the strip planks when the wood has more strength in compression if slab sawn? I know expansion and contraction are important issues for larger carvel planks, but I cannot see that being an issue on strip planks that are inch and quarter wide? If a builder could pick between Western Red Cedar and Port Orford Cedar, which would you use if price is not an issue? I do plan on applying two double diagonal veneers over the strip planks for strength..eighth thick..would WRC or Port Orford Cedar be best, strength and glueing capabilities being considered. Guidance "WOOD" be appreciated!

Thomas

[hansp77]

there is a fair bit of info on this over at the WBF,
amongst a lot of other threads, a quick search turned this up
here is one thread, and here is another (second one is specifically about strip-planking)

from what I could gather, it appears (though opinion of course vary on this) that WRC might be first choice, POC second, and DF last. The reasoning for this in in the threads (weight, brittleness, ease of working, rot resistance, etc.). This is just opinion that I have gathered though. Bob Smalser has contributed to both those threads I linked to (with that order of preference), and if there is anyone's opinon on wood that I would blindly follow over the internet, it would be his.

What are the price differences?

[Thomas Wick]

WRC 2.00 bdft vs 3.00 bdft POC, thank you for referencing the mentioned threads.
Thomas

[catmando2]

I put a post here on KIRI
http://boatdesign.net/forums/showpos...7&postcount=21

Ligter than DF, POC and WRC and when I got it half the price.

My drop test's and deflection test's on Kiri Vs WRC put Kiri in front by quite a bit.

IT also has exelant rot resistance and is very flexable.

Dave

[nero]

$2.00 a bdft for quartersawn WRC is an excellent price! That is more than half price of what I could source it for 3 years ago.
One reason to use quartersawn grain showing on the outside/inside of the hull is for ease of fairing.

It would probably be to your advantage to use uni-glass on the outside and inside of the strip planking. Much easier than bonding veneers. better impact resistance (guess) This is working well for me at present.

Using DF in the bottom of the hull will also result in a tougher hull.