> Was wondering if red cedar would be strong enough for the inside gunwales
> on a canoe. I will be hanging the seats and the thwarts fron them. Thanks

Bob:

Hardwood provides a stronger point of attachment for seats and thwarts, and is much less ding-prone. Most of the structural strength of a conoe comes from the gunwales and thwarts, so hardwood really counts there. If you want to save weight, you can go with thinner or scuppered hardwood gunwales.

-Dan