John,

Thanks for the comment on Basswood, I might try it when I run out of my Lowes/ HD WRC. I keep going to look for good boards even though I don't have a project selected.
Another wood I really like is Poplar (carefully selected to avoid the green) very tough, strong, machines well, and is just a little heavier than WRC. It was the second cheapest wood at my local real lumberyard. A coworker from the NewYork state area said he considers it "trash wood" which is just fine with me cause it is cheaper with that attitude.
I understand that some midwestern states have Cottonwood, which is related to Poplar. Another friend talked about buying 12" boards in Kansas some years ago. I have a little 2"x2" board I cut out of a downed tree and it is lite and stiff. I just have to find a living tree to cut up since it rots quickly when standing dead.

I know where your good WRC goes - I lived in Japan and they don't order it in unless it is perfectly clear. I asked a Canadian mill how much I needed to buy to get some and he said a full 40' trailer. A bit too much for me to handle.

Thanks again for the Basswood information.

Marc

: Marc:
: I've used basswood in the past, when I was building strip canoes,
: for gunwales and also for 'contrast strips'.

: I like basswood a lot - it's reasonably 'tough' (for its density)
: and doesn't tend to splinter or split the way most WRC does.
: When abused it tends to just 'fuzz up' rather than splinter.

: In any wood species I've found a fair bit of variation from 'tree
: to tree' , but you should certainly give your local basswood a
: try, IMO. You need to check the boards carefully, as you will
: probably find some hidden knots and grain twists which are not
: easily visible by colour.

: I'm surprised at the use of WRC for stringers in SOF boats- it
: would certainly be one of my last choices. Ash (at reduced
: scantlings), spruce, yellow cedar aka Alaska cypress, and even
: basswood would rank higher on my list of 'impact resistant'
: woods. Make some sample thin strips and abuse them!

: I guess you have to use what's locally available, though if there
: are a bunch of boatbuilders in one area, it would make sense IMO
: to freight in some good lumber. Truck freight for raw lumber is
: surprisingly cheap.
: I do have the luxury (living in the PNW) of having good lumber
: easily available (at a price, and for the time being- till we
: ship it all away or turn it into paper....)

: Cheers
: John