: I just returned from the hardwoods candy store, anyway I felt like a kid in a
: candy store. There are so many beautiful wood species. My new favorite
: woods are Paduak a deep deep red, wenge a dark brown almost black, and
: aspen. I'm thinking of the hull in Paduak, coming about half way up then
: apen with some inlays and the deck being mostly wenge and some inlays.
: Questions: What are the working characteristics of the paduak & wenge?
: I know they'll be a lot harder than cedar, but what about bendability,
: twist, sanding, planing, and such? Is this combination of woods just gonna
: be impractical because of the weight factor? Go to 3/16's instead of
: 1/4" strips? If so, does this weakin the boat much? Can I still mill
: a decent cove and bead on 3/16" strips with a 1/4" BEAD &
: COVE router bit set?

WOW, you guys are great! Thanks for all your input. The spread of opinion was from do it, to don't do it, but I love all the possibilities and reasoning. The hull could be mainly redwood. That would help. I'll try running the B & C with my 1/4" bits on 3/16" strips. It was good to hear that it would work. The rolling bevel sound awfully hard to do.

So going from 1/4" to 3/16" strips really doesn't make for a weaker boat aye? Can somebody explain that to me? Like a glass composite boat?

I'm building an Orca Boats, Kiska, that Rod Taite heavily modified for me and my needs. I told him I wanted it to be a "Supersized" Impex, Currituck like my wife paddles and loves. I'm pretty excited, and plans should be here in a few days.

Anybody work with that menge wood before? Man it is pretty stuff. This is going to be my first boat. I have been building furniture and cabinets, mostly in red oak, for twenty years in my shop, but I know I'll still have lots of questions. I feel so lucky having this board and all your expertise to help me along.
thanks you guys,
Paul