: (As a side note - this list is quite a resource! My thanks to whoever is
: hosting it! )

That would be Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks. I agree, thanks Nick!

As you probably already know, Picea glauca (aka White Spruce, Adirondack Spruce, etc...) grows across much of the Northern US and Canada. It's a little heavier than its big sister - the Sitka Spruce and its cousin - the Western Red Cedar but White Spruce does have a history in boatbuilding: the root crooks were sawn as frames for the famous Adirondack Guide Boats. Guidboat planking, however appears to be lighter White Pine or Cedar (but I'm not an expert).

That said, kayak builders have successfully used heavier woods by simply milling the strips to a narrower thickness. The example I always use is Mike Loriz - see www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive60.pl?review=62732
I would go for it if you can get it in long, clear lengths. You may be able to find Western Red Cedar for under $2/bf though; that's what it is in Seattle anyway. The other obvious choices are Sitka Spruce and Alaska Yellow Cedar but those are much more costly.

Also check http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/techmenu.html for more info on wood weights, etc.

www.ChipSandresky.com