Stringer Lumber question?

In building a hull for a catamaran, the only material I find in the right size is Poplar wood.
Is this a safe wood to use vs pine for 1 1/2" X 1/4" stringers?

 

Suitable??

Holly, look our Wiki at: http://www.boatdesign.net/wiki/MaterialsForBoatbuilding#Woods_suitable_for_Boat_Construction

The Forest Service handbook is pointed to there.

In my experience Poplar is very quick to rot...

 

OK Terry

Thank-you Terry, I will check that site out, very helpful. Holly

 

Try western red cedar.

 

Stringer Wood

Holly,

I think you should be using Cypress for your stringers as it's relatively easy to get in Florida and Western Red Cedar has to be trucked an awfully long way (read cost added) to get to your location.

Cypress is decently light for its strength, very rot resistant and most important, it won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Here's a list of possible suppliers in your area:

Caryville - Harrison Lumber Co, PO Box 145, 32427, 904/548 5114 - L
Ft Lauderdale - Marine Lumber & Plywood, 2945 State Rd 84, 33312 305/584 8558
Ft Lauderdale - Seafarer Marine, 3100 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 33315, Phone 954-763-4263 www.seafarermarine.com
Lake Placid - Pierce Millwork Inc, 19 Richfield Dr, 33852 813/465 2133
Marathon - Buck Woodcraft, Inc., 120 49th Street, 33050, 305-743-4090 buckwoodcraft.com
Miami - Shell Lumber & Hdw Co, 2733 SW 27th Ave, 33133 305/858 9888
Miami - Amazon Lumber & Trading, 5909 NE 3rd Ave, 33137, 305/757 1943 or 800/TEAKOIL
Miami - Dixie Plywood Co, 3561 NW 54th St, 33142, 305/633 8141
Miami - Medley Hardwoods, 7182 NW 77 Terr, 33166, 305/887 1115
Orlando - Dixie Plywood, 407/291 1582
Pompano Beach - Merritt Marine, 305/946 5350
Port Canaveral - Adams Custom Boats Inc, 950 Mullet Rd, 32920, 305/784 2013
Riviera Beach - World Panel Prod, 1750,#1 Australian Av, 33404 561/840 0500, 888/836 3379
Stuart - Whiticar Boat Wks Inc, 3636 SE Old St Lucie Bl, 33494 305/287 2883
Stuart - Maritime Wood Prod, 3361 S.E. Slater St., 34997 800/274 8325 or 561/287 0463
Tampa - Dixie Plywood, 813/248 4107
Tampa - Craftsmen Supply Center, 5011 E. Busch Blvd, 33617, 813/988-4677
Tarpon Sps - Flaherty Marine Inc, 761 Anclote Rd, 33589 813/934 9394
West Palm Beach - Henegan's Wood Shed, 7760 Southern Blvd, 33411, 305/793 1557
West Palm Beach - Blumer & Stanton, 5112 Georgia Avenue, 33405, 561-585-2525, www.blumerandstanton.com

 

Spruce 2x4s ought to be available at any lumber yard. If you do not possess a table saw, Ryobi makes an adaquate cheapie for $89. Contrary to what a lot of people think, all you get with a big expensive table saw is capacity, longevity, and ultra-smooth cuts. However, even a cheap little table saw can, with a fine-toothed blade, quickly rip most anything, especially 1 1/2" x 1/4" strips from a $6 2 x 4 . You only have to spend some time looking for a piece that will yield some knot-free strips.

Alan

 

Sringers

hey Alan, great idea! I am sure I can use the table saw for other thngs as well. Appreciate your and the other posts on here, great bunch of guys/gals.
regards, Holly

 

One Last ? Question Ihope)
Given A Choice Of Materials For Stringers I Can Get Yellow Pine Or Spruce----any Suggestions? Thank-y'all----holly

 

Sure. Yellow pine is fine. Must be DRY. Spruce is lighter, yellow pine stronger. Either way, the weight difference is miniscule judging by those measurments. Also, fir, cedar, white pine, cypress, luan, etc..

A.

 

Spruce for above the waterline. Yellow pine for below. Make sure the moisture content is below 12 percent. My boat hulls are strip planked in cypress. The stringers are 2 layers of cypress with a cap in white ash and unidirectional fiberglass. Held on by biaxel glass cut to lay at 45/45.

 

For what it's worth, looking through stacks and stacks of Home Depot lumber--Cedar and Doug. Fir-- I've noticed that the longer lengths of 16' and 20' are noticeably clearer of knots. Easier to find rift-or quarter-sawn pieces too. And not that much more expensive when you figure in total wastage.

 

Watch for pitch pockets---- fir has to be examined carefully. But it is a real bargain wood. Some class boats were originally designed with fir planking. The Lightning (19 ft sloop) had a hard-chined hull that could have been built from plywood. It used solid fir instead, 3" or 4" wide, I think.

Alan

 

You might also try:
M.L. CONDON 248 Ferris Ave. White Plains, NY 10603 tel: 914-946-4111 fax: 914-946-3779
Typically nice stock - a little pricey but good wood.
One thing I didn't see mentioned is that if you are going to use pine, spruce, fir - etc. make sure you seal the hell out it or that it can breath. Cedar Cypress - more resistant to rot.