Has anyone used Cedrus deodara (aka deodora, himalayan cedar) in strip building? A friend has offered me a small board harvested in California which I'm considering using for a cockpit recess and possibly the coaming.

It's a tree that's native to India and Pakistan. Supposedly highly valued for timber there, and very strong for a conifer. It's grown ornamentally in the Western and Southern U.S. My favorite climbing tree as a kid was a "deodora" (perhaps it was supposed to be called deodara...I didn't focus on spelling or pronunciation at that age).

Any thoughts on the risk of epoxy not adhering to it? I've read a few warnings about Redwood being brittle, not bonding with epoxy, turning very dark, and causing heat-related problems on decks. This was another material I was considering for the recess. Otherwise it'll be WRC or basswood, which is what the rest of the kayak is made from.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Martin