I just turned a Rosewood Coffee Grinder on the lathe last week and it was a great wood for that, both in appearance and workability. I do agree with the others that it would be a little heavy for a kayak. It would also be a beautiful kayak though.

I would rip a strip of 1/8 inch off the edge and do a test panel over the equivalent of your tightest curves to check for workability, brittleness etc.

If you decide to move forward with the project I would lean toward 1/8 inch strips with extra glass (like two layers of 4 ounce inside and out) and then treat it with care.

Forms would need to be accurate for 1/8 strips so you don't thin or sand through. I have 1/8 inch WRC on the deck of my Mystery and it shows deflection between the forms from sanding. Not a lot just enough to drive me nuts. Keep the paper sharp and no pressure.

Photo is a Rosewood paint job on a fiberglass kayak. Looks really, really good.

Best,

Reg

: Hello,

: I am about to build a Guillemot Night Heron and Micro Bootlegger, and would
: like to know if New Guinea Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) would be a
: suitable timber. I have 3 200mm x 50mm x 5500mm boards, so I am hoping the
: answer is yes. My main concern is weight, as the Rosewood is 40 lb/cu ft,
: vs WRC at around 23 lb/cu ft. I could slim down the strips but I'm not
: sure that this would be enough, I was thinking 1/8 thick may be OK? Any
: suggestions?