Thread: Timber selection for strip canoe in Tassie

As I was visiting my brother at Sawtell recently, it was only a short trip to pick up my Paulownia from the plantation and mill near Coffs. It is actually closer to Glenreagh but I don't suppose many people know where Glenreagh is.

They have some very impressive trees and logs there and I learned that two of my previous suppliers had sourced some of their timber from that plantation. So it is not surprising that it was the same top quality that I have been buying for more than the last 15 years.

If the quality is the only reason you are reluctant to buy planks to mill and rip yourself, then you need not worry. I would be astonished if you would be dissatisfied with any planks you bought from that plantation.

At the time I bought mine, I got half a dozen 3.8 metre lengths of 150x25 rough sawn. It seems that during the COVID restrictions, every man and his dog have decide to start some project using Paulownia. Normally they have longer lengths available.

It didn't worry me that 3.8 metre lengths was all that was available because that is about what I normally choose to build 4.5 metre to 5.8 metre kayaks and canoes. I hate full length strips. In fact I am currently building a kayak using one of the half dozen perfect 6 metre WRC planks that someone gave me for free and I find them quite awkward to rip and to handle.

Thanks for the info!

Cheers.

Hello Omnius. Is the form work from your solo canoe for sale? Could I have a look at your canoe? I live in Cygnet

Would love to buy your solo form if it is for sale

Jason

Originally Posted by Omnius

Hi all,

I am building a strip canoe on a budget as I am a student. I need help with selecting a timber which meets my requirements.

First off I have decided to use epoxy instead of polyester or vinylester so that eats into my funds a fair bit.

I would like the canoe to be as light as possible but the Timbers that would achieve this are too expensive i.e. Cedar, Balsa and Paulownia (Paulownia isn't that expensive but Bass Strait is a costly stretch of water).

So I am left with medium density softwoods.


Celery will cost $280 (a bit heavy)
Baltic pine will cost $70
Radiata, $75
and finally Macrocarpa which is what I am leaning towards could cost between $50-90.

From my calculations the difference in weight is 5 kg on the total weight of the canoe from lightest to heaviest.
I am aiming for a 15ft solo that will be between 14-18kg.

I will be using single layer of 4oz glass. Strip thickness will be 5 or 4 mm. The canoe is about 5 square meters.
Most likely painted on the exterior and varnished interior. Small dimension gunwales and thwarts

So my question is what other alternative do I have down here in Tassie ?
Can any of these timbers be dried lower than 12%mc easily ?
Which would be easier to work with ?
Will the small knots in Macrocarpa be a problem?
Which would stain better ?
Which would have better resale value ?

I suppose any timber that was around the 400kg/m^3 and easily worked with is what I am after that doesn't cost too much.

thanks