I'm getting set to start an Outer Island, and am having some difficulty locating 20' northern white cedar. For cleaner looks and ease-of-building (in my apartment), I'd like to avoid scarfing. I've made quite a few calls here in Michigan; even Newfound Woodworks, makers of strip kits, only has 12' strips available. Is 20' white cedar impossible to come by these days?

If this is the case and I have to scarf, I'd like to do the cleaner-looking through-the-thickness scarf. Nick's book shows a belt sander for this, but this wouldn't fly with my neighbors (buncha pansies.) Would I get a decent edge if I made a mini-miter box for this and used a small, fine hand saw?

-Or- Should I consider white pine? It looks like it would add ~3# to the boat.

Thanx, Dean