: firstly - thanks for the offer of the cedar - I'm down s.w. of birmingham, so
: I think it's a little far!

: secondly - I now have access to a big band saw and workshop - the school
: where I teach has just refurbished the one that they had in the back of
: the shop, and so I'm now fixed for that.

: thirdly - I had looked into divinycell as someone here mentioned. They do a
: scored foam sheet that could be used to conform to a kayak shape - and if
: I filled some of the cracks that would appear as the scoring was bent
: round the forms with strands of glass (as per the discussion on the
: guillimot further up the page) this should be strong enough. they have a
: link to wenoah (?) canoes, who use divinycvell foam in their canoes -
: maybe when I make one of those next year I'll try the foam out then.

: I'm probably going to rip pine and paint it (I was always going to do that!)
: but I still fancy trying someting different - if only because I'm an
: awkward sort of guy!

: Anyway - thanks for all the help, and I'll keep you updated with what I end
: up doing.

Pine is considerably stronger than cedar (also heavier), I'd go with something thinner than 1/4", perhaps 3/16". You'd end up with about the same weight as cedar and similiar strength.

Bill H.