jerico bay skiff, alternive woods for strip built?

[bracmon]

hi, my name is Mike

I am planning on building the Jerico Bay skiff but I am having a hard time finding yellow cedar in FL. and was wondering if there is an alteritive wood to use? Ive used Ca. redwood for canoes but Im thinking that it's a bit soft for a larger boat such as the JC skiff. Has anyone ever found a good sorce for yellow cedar in FL or a better alterinitive wood?

Thanks
Mike

[Thorne]

I'll guess that pretty much any light wood would work for a light stripbuilt design -- including redwood. But is it always best to follow the plans as closely as possible.

Lets see what other folks in your area say...

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/images/400145b.jpg
http://www.woodenboat.com/jerichobay-skiff.php

[Bert Langley]

Might consider cypress, it is usually readily available in long clean boards, perfect for strip building. Depending on where you are in Florida I am suprised you can't find Juniper (atlantic white cedar). Plenty of small sawmills around usually have both.

[Thorne]

Remember that we are talking about building the boat with very thin strips of wood fully encapsulated with fiberglass -- not the original "strip built" method of much larger square strips of wood nailed and glued together. So woods suitable for the first method are not good for the second and vice versa -- but both get called "strip built".

My understanding is that cypress would add over 1/3 more to the weight of the boat materials, but that's just a guess...
http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_wood.htm

[Bert Langley]

I agree with Thorne on trying to follow the plans as much as possible. However, I am starting to build the 15' Lobsterboat from Selway Fisher (very similar to the Jerico Bay Skiff). That entire hull only has a little over 5 cubic feet of wood. Going to cypress instead of cedar adds only 50 lbs to the boat. While this is a lot, and you should not make this kind of change without really thinking about it, I don't think it would significantly matter.

However, one thing to remember. If you make changes and the boat does not perform as advertised, don't blame the designer. I am perfectly willing to embark down a pathway of my own choosing. If it works out great, if not I only have myself to blame.

[Paul Kessinger]

The most recent issue of WoodenBoat had an interesting article on pine as a boatbuilding wood, and it is pretty much generally available at any home center -- and you can pick through the pile looking for good pieces with tight growth rings.

Alton Wallace used and Richard Nichols still uses plain old Eastern White Pine to strip plank the West Point Skiff, which is a close relative of the Jericho Bay.

And I completely agree with the post that points out that the JB is completely coated with heavy-duty glass and epoxy inside and out. The core material isn't going to see any water. What you are looking for is lightness and bendiness more than strength.

Finally, I picked up some douglas fir flooring at a home center was to use in some light rib laminations. Gorgeous stuff -- totally clear, tight rings. When I got it I thought what a great strip-building core it would make where a little more strength is needed compared to the cedars, although at the cost of more weight.

PK

[Ethan]

Mike,
I think you're on the right track, but I have to say that I don't quite agree with some of the responses so far.

Here's my point of contention: Glass and epoxy don't create an impervious moisture barrier. There is migration of water molecules across the best glass/epoxy sheathing and therefore a route of moisture ingress. Enough to cause or support rot? Probably not, if built well. However, the suggestion to use cypress is what concerns me. Please don't misunderstand me - cypress is a joy. Good cypress can be an incredible boatbuilding wood. But cypress isn't such a hot choice for a strip build, IMO.

Cypress, while having many positive attributes, soaks up and retains water like a sponge. That will happen (to some extent) even if you do a perfect job on the sheathing. In the best case scenario, you're boat will get incrementally heavier as time goes on. I don't know that it would get heavy to the point of being unsafe or causing other problems, but I don't know that it wouldn't. Is it worth the risk?

For a comparable price, look into some nice Atlantic White Cedar (a.k.a. Juniper). You won't take the weight penalty, you won't have to be concerned about water retention to the same extent, and you'll find that it's somewhat easier to dimension and work your strips.

Just my $0.02! Best of luck regardless and be sure to share lots of pictures with us as you go forward!

Ethan

[Bert Langley]

While I agree with Ethan about cypress soaking up water if you are getting enough water to matter through the epoxy you have other problems. A number of strip builders around here use cypress. See cypresskayaks.com for one example.

Of course I am assuming you plan on the boat living on a trailer. However, I agree for where you are you shoild be able to get atlantic white cedar.

[cbcc]

You'll be fine with cypress which you can get locally. Don't worry about the "soaking water up like a sponge" crowd - my guess is you'll have it on a trailer far more hours than you'll have it in the water.

[John Boone]

Evening Mike,

I'll add another recommendation for Atlantic White Cedar (juniper to me). If you can't locate a source in FL, try these folks (http://www.anchorhardwoods.com/) in Wilmington, NC.

They supply many of the coastal boatbuilders along NC and should be able to suppy the juniper for your project.

Here's another link you may find useful regarding the Atlantic White Cedar.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/techsheets...hyoideseng.pdf (http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/techsheets/SoftwoodNA/pdf_files/chamaethyoideseng.pdf)

[bracmon]

Im accually in the Caribbean, but get all my lumber from Fl. I have a good supplier for hardwoods but non for soft. I can get spanish cedar but I dont' look forward to milling it down (you'll be spitting for the next week even with a resporator).

Might consider cypress, it is usually readily available in long clean boards, perfect for strip building. Depending on where you are in Florida I am suprised you can't find Juniper (atlantic white cedar). Plenty of small sawmills around usually have both.

[calfee20]

I am up here in Massachusetts and about a month ago I went to a boat shop in Westport. The man there builds traditional skiffs. He was telling me about the wonderful cedar that he buys from a mill in RI. that makes white cedar shingles and gets it's stock from Florida. Anyway maybe you could find out where in Florida, here is the phone number 800 441 3630.

................................................To m C

[bracmon]

yes, the boat will live on a trailer (inside the shop:D) alongside the canoe Im finishing up for my daughter.

While I agree with Ethan about cypress soaking up water if you are getting enough water to matter through the epoxy you have other problems. A number of strip builders around here use cypress. See cypresskayaks.com for one example.

Of course I am assuming you plan on the boat living on a trailer. However, I agree for where you are you shoild be able to get atlantic white cedar.

[JimConlin]

Count another vote for Atlantic White cedar.