poplar wood for boats?

[Ilikesalmon]

poplar wood for boats?

I am planning to build a kayak style boat using two pieces of poplar wood for the "sides" which will recieve the ribs. (Eastern cedar in 16' lengths is impossible to find and Western red cedar is too pricey for me.) Has anyone used poplar wood in thier boat building projects? If so, how did you like the results?

 

[Bondo]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Poplar is right up there with White Birch.........<br />They have No natural resistence to Rot..........<br />Poplar makes Marginal furniture frames, much less a Boat.....<br />Poplar is also the Softess of the Hardwoods... Just as Hemlock is the Hardest of the softwoods.....<br /><br />Over in Your country there are Billzillions of little private,+ commercial Saw Mills...(I travel rte.s Vt104, Vt15,+ US2 regularly, Swanton to St Albans thru St Johnsbury,+ beyond)<br />With a little legwork, You should be able to find eastern white Cedar, Tamarack, Hemlock, etc......<br /><br />Is there a reason you can't laminate to get the sizes you need ?????

 

[Ilikesalmon]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Bondo, I can find cedar easy enough, but, I can't find 16' lengths and I would rather not laminate before I bend and shape the side pieces. The side pieces will be 1/2 inch thick by 6 inches wide and 16 feet long. Each side piece is made up of two boards like that and laminated together so you end up with a 1x6x16". My plan was to use poplar for the "inside piece" and laminate that to a cedar piece (with a joint) for the "water side piece" and encapsulate with epoxy.<br />I guess I should bite the bullet and buy some western red cedar. What are you doing riding around up here in the north woods anyway?

 

[Bondo]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

What are you doing riding around up here in the north woods anyway?

I live around Watertown, Ny... But I was Born,+ Raised in Old Town, Me......<br />That's the way I've been traveling back,+ forth for over 30yrs........ <br /><br />And, Let me start with, I'm a Mechanic...<br />Even thou I consider myself a "Master Jack",+ have dabbled in Wood........<br />I'm not a Wooden Boat Builder.....an Admirer, with no urge to own..... <br /><br />If you're doing your bending on a form, or mold,...<br />Is there a way to incorporate the jiont into that process ??<br />If you're already doing a back to face joint,<br />I'd think you could scarf joint Both the inner,+ outer 16' pieces..??..... just stagger them....<br /><br />Like I said, I'm really Not a Wood worker.....<br /><br />If you really Need the 1/2"X6", or 1"X6",<br />You're going to have to take a drive around your local country-side.............<br />I've got a Million Bucks, That says I Could find Big Cedar sticks... or Trees.... in the Vermont I know..............<br />If the Sawyer really can't find you a Cedar log, He'll know a Farmer who has 1 standing Somewhere...........<br />16', Really Isn't that Big.......<br /><br />Good Luck....

 

[Ilikesalmon]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Hey Bondo, Thanks for your advise! I found some long cedar boards in Granville Vermont. $1.92 per lineal foot for 1x6 vertical grain cedar. Thats not too far from where I live, so I am heading there this week and buy four 16' boards. That figures out to: $122.88. Still a lot cheaper than Wester red cedar and I like using the local stuff anyway.

 

[Bondo]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

vertical grain cedar.

1/4er sawn.....<br />That's the stuff you boatbuilders Want, isn't it........<br /><br />Good Luck.........And, Have Fun.........

 

[petrolhead]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

A tip that may work for some of you guys looking for timber. I found a great local supplier recently in the form of a solid wood flooring company, they have ready planed planks from 2" to 6" wide (narrower=cheaper), 1/2" to 3/4" thick, lengths up to 13', Oak, Mahogany, Beech, Walnut, Maple, you name it...<br />Prices are very good (like 1/3rd) compared to timber yards, provided the stuff is the size you need which in my case it is.<br />The planks are tongued and grooved on both edges, if you don't need the T&G just run it through the saw and cut it off.

 

[crab bait]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

all great advise here.. but the best advise i can give is do not ever ever skimp.. not one penny..

 

[Realgun]

Re: poplar wood for boats?

Re: poplar wood for boats?

I will skimp very very hard. I like to save money however I will not give up safety or reliability to do so.<br />Here is a <br /> Chart that might help.