: I want to build a stripper kayak as cheaply as possible: I want to layout my
: own plans from Nick's book, I want to cut my own strips, I want to buy my
: glass from RAKA, etc.

: I want to walk into my local lumberyard and buy some boards, take them home,
: rip and strip. Around here (the central coast of California) there is no
: cedar in the Home Depots, but lots of cheap redwood. How good is redwood
: for kayaks?

: Will my kayak be heavier? Weaker? Will it be harder to build?

: Any information would be most appreciated. Thanks!

I used yellow cedar with redwood accent strips to make a strip canoe. After I epoxied the hull, the cedar and the redwood looked almost identical. The cedar I used was fairly dark to begin with.

Cedar is more limber than the redwood and bends tighter. Redwood splinters more easily. The cedar had more (tight) knots and thus more splicing. Redwood is about 10% heavier. I would use redwood to make a kayak if price was factor but a little extra effort would be expected (steam bending and more cheater strips).

I would use rough cut 1x's to save money and use bead and cove router bits to mill off the rough edges of the 1/4" ripped strips.

Redwood soaks up water like a sponge in the lumber yard. I have seen water squirt out of it when driving nails through it (house repair project). Let it set indoors a few weeks to dry out before you use it.