7. Choosing wood for the strips

Over Christ Mass, I've been researching the wood I will use for strips. As usual, the Wooden Boat Forum was very helpful. Based on their suggestions I came up with the following priorities.

1. Do not use the following:
   • very heavy or weak wood
   • highly resinous wood
2. Preferable qualities
   • Clear (or close to it)
   • Long and straight
   • Workable
   • Strength to weight ratio
3. My needs
   • Not too expensive
   • Available in central New York state

Everyone seems to agree that Western Red Cedar fits these priorities most completely. Many other woods were suggested, but I can get WRC and it is within my budget.

The best quote I have found for WRC is $0.79 / lin. ft. or, for my project, about $90.

I hope to buy the cedar early next week. I'll either buy my dad a thin-kerf blade for his table saw, or try to use our neighbor's bandsaw (which I hear is pretty nice, with a good wide band)