Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

THE TROPICALIZED BAIDARKA
By:mark c. williams
Date: 4/30/2000, 7:57 pm

I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND BUILT MANY SKIN ON FRAME CANOES AND BAIDARKAS HOWEVER IN THE LAST TWO BOATS I BEGAN TO MODIFY MY MATERIAL SELECTION .

INSTEAD OF THE USUAL OAK/ASH FOR RIBS I HAVE BEEN USING MELALUCA SAPLINGS WHICH I BELIEVE IS RELATED TO EUCALIPTUS . THESE SAPLINGS ARE HERE IN ABUNDANCE , IN FACT IT'S A NOXIOUS SOURCE OF ALERGIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE . I USUALLY SHAVE THEM TO ABOUT 1/2"x3/4" . I HAVE BUILT A 15 LB. CANOE THAT A 190LB. PADDLER USED WITH NO PROBLEM . THAT BOAT HAD THESE MELALUCA RIBS . I HAVE NOT REALLY TESTED THESE BOATS IN REALLY EXTREME SURF . MY QUESTION IS , WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE (LITERALLY) IS THERE ANY PROBLEM USING THIS WOOD? I KNOW I AM DOING A COMMUNITY SERVICE KILLING THESE TREES (THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE NATIVE CYPRESS) . I GUESS MY QUESTION IS ...SHOULD THESE SAPLINGS STRENGTHEN MY FRAMES OR GO TO THE MULCHER ?