Bamboo "lumber"

[Pernicious Atavist]

Brainstorm...since bamboo is so strong, light and renewable, couldn't it be effectively used as lumber, especially for small boats, like canoes?

I have a local dealer that sells it for $1/foot. So, here's a brainstorm...

-A 4" dia. pole would open to about 12" flat
-Split, steam, and flatten it
-Run it through a plane
-Rip it to width
-Use it accordingly
-Epoxy w/o fabric?

What say you?

[kc8pql]

Check out bamboo flooring. It's already made up into planks. The problem for boatbuilding is that it isn't particularly rot resistant, it's very stiff and hard, and the glue it's put together with may be questionable. here's an old thread on bamboo lumber:
http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=18888

[Pernicious Atavist]

I know about flooring and it's also expensive because it's 'trendy.' I was thinking about a do-it-yourself project. Didn't realize it wasn't rot-resistant; I'll check out that thread--thanks!

[MiddleAgesMan]

The bamboo garden lights I stuck in the ground about 5 years ago are still standing. Teak it ain't but I doubt a stick of most other boat building timbers would still be standing tall after such use.

[Thorne]

As above, the issues are the bamboo's water resistance AND the glues -- a lot of excitement over the latter even for flooring, as some glues seem to be PC and others not.

Personally, other than use as spars and flagstaffs, I suspect it really isn't all that great when compared to traditional boatbuilding woods.

[TimH]

I wouldnt think it would be as nicely workable as traditional woods with that grain.