> Is there a big weight difference between the two?

> I like the idea of pine for better visibility on the water, although it
> could look like a whitecap from a distance, too. The white cedar on my
> current kayak darkend more than I expected...

> Dean

Hello Dean,

I haven't weighed them yet but I am anticipating about 3-4 lbs. difference. Keep in mind that the hulls are both western red cedar, only the decks are different from each other. I have tried several different species of light colored wood and, although all will tend to turn amber to some degree, I have found the Idaho White Pine to retain it's light color better than the others. Here again, you will find variations from board to board - some are darker and have thicker annual rings which will lessen the "whiteness" of the wood, especially after the epoxy hits it. It is always best to go through the stack and choose those that seem the most consistent with each other.

You can't see it in the photo but the pine I am using here actually is a "birds eye" pine - I was fortunate enough to find several boards with this very interesting grain pattern (which isn't very common in pine).

The yellowing and darkening of the wood can be caused by several things - UV, oxidation, the particular epoxy you are using (some different brands and hardeners are darker than others), and varnish all contribute to the amber tones.

Joe