: I am getting ready to build my second wood strip kayak, a Great Auk. (The
: first one is a Guillemot 17 made from douglas fir, Phillipine mahogany and
: cherry.) I am going to use cypress for the primary wood. Should I use
: 1/4" thick strips or 3/16". Would 5/8" or 3/4" wide
: strips be better? I am getting the wood free and that is the best price
: and a good reason for the cypress. Any comments on working with cypress?

Cypress ia a good choice of wood, and the price is certainly right.
Have you got enough to share?

The word that filters back to here is that the difference in strength between 3/16 and 1/4 inch strips in negligible. For the 25% reduction in weight you might as well use 3/16. If you want to fudge things, or you have any qualms about the outcome, cut your strips a tad thicker than 3/16. Something like 7/32 would split the difference -- and probably open up a new thread of discussion on strip thickness.

PGJ