SOF Kayak - sugest some wood please! [how about White Pine?]

Originally Posted by millionswords

I get to see some used Pinewood Logs 20 to 21 feet long, which has been used to pack machinery, so there are minor nail holes in them every 4 inch or so. Would this do good? an i pack the nail holes with some sort of packing, and not worry about it and still use it?

What do you people think?

Sounds attractive, but I would´nt recommend it. Usually, Pine used for packageing is max. B quality, and you need the upper level AA for structural members. Pine is´nt Pine.... there are many species too.
Go for Saj instead, it´s not overpriced in India.

Bamboo is never a good idea! And the reason is easy to understand. The strongest fibers Bamboo has just under the outer hard skin, but you have to flatten out the round shape and get rid of the nodes. You cut the surface, the reverse side (both very difficult and expensive, due to the shape), then you steam the batten and flatten it by high pressure (50 tonnes are sufficient), and voila... you have a nice, environmental friendly ? and cheap ? material. Strong too (if you are able to skin the surface not deeper than 0,5 mm, but remove all nodes)! And it will spring back a bit, so you have to laminate two battens back to back anyway! THEN you have a real strong plank, for twice the price of finest Teak. A good idea!?

Regards
Richard

Sigurd... I let refill the photokopier today.