: It weighs 50% more than cedar does. (3.2 pounds per bf as opposed to 2 pounds
: per bf for WRC. Ok, that's more than 50% more, but I don't feel like
: figuring it out exactly!)

Actually, the poplar we get around here is quite lightweight. It has a very porous quality. I've found it to be a nice wood to work with, but it does have a musky smell to it when cut. It will turn out yellow to blond in color. Some boards have green streaks which will turn black. The Spirit of Idaho was built with a poplar deck. I've found that it can be soft and may dent more than other woods. I've noticed this mostly on the aft deck where I use the paddle for support getting in and out of the boat.

Wood weights can vary substantially, however, even within a species. I've found some very heavy WRC boards, yet my greenland paddle built from WRC 2x2's came out very light. I mainly choose woods for their color and quality. To a large degree, weight can be controlled through strip thickness and careful expoxy/glass application. Beth's Silver used Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Peruvian Walnut, and Padouk all of which are fairly heavy. That boat came out at 35 lbs which is acceptable for me. YMMV.

Bill