Poll: Wood Strip Material Choice

[TexasRiverRacer23]

I haven't been on the site for quite some time but starting to plan my next boat build. I recently completed the 2025 Texas Water Safari in the aluminum class with my best friend. One of my Safari goals is to complete the race solo in a boat I build. I attempted this in 2018, but I was unfortunately DQ'd at the 200 mile mark (Victoria, Texas) for receiving aid as I pinned my boat badly in a large strainer and had to get help to get it free. The boat I made that year was a fast boat, but it was tippier than I realized and 150 miles in my core was starting to go. I was having a hard time maneuvering and the cause of me losing control and ending up in the strainer. I sold that boat years ago and all my solo paddling in the last few years has been in a C1 racing canoe. I have a new design that should carry decent speed, at least for me at 58 years of age but the main difference is it will be much more stable than my last solo build that should ultimately translate to faster overall speed due to the comfort and stability factor. As of now, I plan to make this build out of Western Red Cedar but I'm curious about other preferred choices which can be chosen for a variety of different reasons. I've added a poll question with some different choices so if you have one not on the list, please chime in. If the boat performs the way I hope, I'll probably pull a mold off it at some point and vacuum bag a composite of the hull. Thanks for any input you care to offer.

 

[Alan Gage]

I've made a lot of them from WRC and one from Cottonwood. I would like to try Basswood but it's not an easy thing to find unless you have a local sawmill that saws and sells it or can saw your logs.

Even though cottonwood is pretty soft I was surprised how much harder it was than WRC. Sanding was a lot slower. It came from logs I harvested and milled myself so that was my reasoning for using it. It was noticeably heavier as well. I can't imagine using even harder woods but I know people successfully do so.

In my opinion WRC is king because it works as good or better than anything else and is pretty easy to source as most lumber yards can order in clear material.

Alan

 

[yknpdlr]

A local strip builder I know likes to use mixture of red/white cedar and a few strips of white pine for contrasting colors.

A Yukon race team partner of mine raced the Water Safary in a black carbon canoe last year in temps of 100F+. Very brutal.

 

[memaquay]

I've worked with quite a few different woods, but hands down prefer our local white cedar. I am going to get some poplar or aspen this fall though and try that as the main wood.

 

[Jim Dodd]

WRC.
I've built with Redwood, It is harder to work, maybe even a little brittle. No knots
Aspen makes a fine accent strip, as it stays white. Harder than WRC, to sand.
I picked up some African Mahogany, and decided to use it for accent strip. Walnut makes a better contrast for accent strips.

Jim

 

[Gamma1214]

So far, I've built with Aspen, Tamarac & White Pine... I'm currently planning builds with Catalpa and Cypress. (trim woods are usually chosen for color contrast rather than any other consideration)

I'll eventually build with Northern White Cedar due to its lower weight but, for now, I like using the "junk" trees that are deemed useless for anything other than pallets. I also like the fact that these all grow locally and most of these trees grow rapidly enough that they can be easily replaced within my lifetime.

While I really like the color of the Tamarac, all things considered (weight, appearance, workability, etc) I'd say the Aspen might be my favorite so far.

 

[Cruiser]

My first few canoes were WRC and it is a good choice, it works and finishes easy ... if you have the option to inspect, it also comes in a range of colours from tan to chocolate brown. It can be a bit of a chore to find a source of suitable wood, but that is part of the journey of strip building ... finding the pieces. This is likely the most available, commonly chosen build material for strip boats.

Later on I found a good supplier of NWC and haven't built with WRC since ... it is just that much better for purpose. More flexible, lighter and easier to finish. The colour palette is a little more limited going from pale tan to tan.

Between these 2 woods, you can do pretty much anything from contrasting strips to fancy accents, without ever resorting to heavier woods.

Allen, I would suggest that WRC is common, but not really king .... while not as widely available, NWC outclasses it by quite a bit IMO. If you can't get NWC, then you can settle for WRC, lol

 

[Alan Gage]

Allen, I would suggest that WRC is common, but not really king .... while not as widely available, NWC outclasses it by quite a bit IMO. If you can't get NWC, then you can settle for WRC, lol

Good point. When I referred to it as 'king' I simply meant that it fits the task well and seems to be the most widely available. Perhaps calling it the 'default' wood would be a better description.

Alan

 

[Jim Dodd]

For accents.
Aspen and walnut make the most striking combination, in my book.
Both are usually available.