Here is a table comparing weights that I made:

Wood Thickness 1/4” 3/16” 1/4” 3/16”
Glass Thickness 6 oz 6 oz 4 oz 4 oz
Wood Weight 20.8 15.6 20.8 15.6
Glass Weight 6.3 6.3 4.2 4.2
Resin Weight 9.4 9.4 8.1 8.1
Total (lbs) 36.5 31.3 33.1 27.9

These are "ideal" weights calculated using published data for wood and epoxy densities. The thinner wood saves about 5 pounds. You can save 3 pounds by using 4 oz glass instead of 6 oz. While this doesn't save as much as thinner wood I have feeling the thicker wood will result in a significantly stronger boat.

I have made up some test panels to see if my feeling is correct. I'll post the results on my page when I get them.

Until then my advise is to first choose thinner glass then if you still want lighter weight go to thinner wood.

I just finished a Coastal with 1/4" strips and 4 oz glass, it weights in at 38 lbs. This is 2 layers of 4 oz on the bottom, two hatches and bulkheads and otherwise fully equipt. I don't see any need to save an additional two pounds for a boat that will probably be more fragile.

Although George may be right about the temperature effects on epoxy, remember that few people paddle in 100+ degree water and while the sun may heat up the deck further it is only when the deck is in the water that you need to worry about something hitting it and causing damage.
: Jim Gabriel's note on a thread on boat weights and my own construction indicate that using 1/4" strips puts 18 pounds of wood in a 17' boat, our boats were both Guillemot Coastals.

: That is each 1/16" of woood weighs 4.5 pounds - the same weight of a additional layer of 6oz fiberglass. The fiberglass has much better mechanical properties.

: I sit here thinking of how I can cut 1mm cedar strips and attach them to a fiberglass hull.

• Guillemot Kayaks