Hi everyone,

I'm a first time builder looking for a good project for this year. I've settled on building the high capacity Great Auk from Guillemot Kayaks for my first, really looking forward to getting started. The only issue that I've run into is that I live in Perth (Western Australia), and from what I can see so far almost everyone on this site is on the other side of the world and I was hoping to ask for any experience with Australian timber...

So far I have identified three possibilities. I am able to get Western Red Cedar imported, but only in 3m lengths. Besides Pine, the only other wood appropriate is Tasmanian Oak, but it is about twice the density of the cedar. I have also been informed that the available pine suffers from a black mould/fungus which appears in the prescence of water - I have seen this on other boats, but I think it probably only happens when the boats are in the water full-time. I'd like to have pine as an option, as it is much cheaper, comes in any length I want and will stain very well. Otherwise I'll have to scarf the cedar or try and find some long planks of the tassie oak.

Graham