: Actually, the poplar we get around here is quite lightweight.

LOL! Around where and what is lightweight? Heck, I was only giving industry figures! 'Course, I do go recover poplar boards most weeks and the boards that I recover are WAY MORE than 50% heavier than WRC... Maybe they're not dried yet? Anyway...

: I've found it to be a nice wood to work with

Oh, hey, no dispute, there! Let's see... Ok, photo op!
As in: http://witherup.free.fr/images/newKit1.JPG
Note that the frame for my countertops (I just installed them today) is poplar. Oh, and the other pic is a close up of the grains of the tops (no poplar there!). Let's see... I also built a nice wagon out of poplar and there are a few strips of it in my Cormorant. I don't recall those strips as presenting problems like, say, the purple heart did!

: 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.

Hmm. Well, I read things like that, but haven't really had a chance to experience them. Still, as I wrote, I may make my next 'yak of poplar, just for fun.

: 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.

LOL! Yeah, well, anything has to be better than my 55# 'yak! 'Course, my deck is all hardwoods... Oh, I'd post a photo of that, but you've likely seen it! Well, here's a little piece of it anyway...
http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/read/80561
Still, I just can't even imagine getting one that I build down to 35#... Dang!

cheers!
c