I am pretty much stuck going ahead with my Sea Bee build using the materials I already have, but I have been worried about this since I started planning my kayak. The only wood I have for the stringers is some 1"x6"x8' pine from Lowes. It has quite a few small knots on every board. They are plentiful enough that I would never be able to cut around them, so I am stuck with using stringers with knots. I know that is normally a no-no, but from what I can tell that is my only option right now.

I have cut a test strip (3/4"x3/4") and flexed it over my knee. It took a bit of flex before I finally heard a light cracking sound. Upon inspection I found it had not started to let go at one of the knots, but rather at a spot where the grain must have been weak. I'm hoping thats a sign that this wood will work, but I am still a bit nervous.
Has anyone else ever tried to use pine with knots for stringers?
(I should note that I am making the multi-chine version of the Sea Bee, which I am hoping will spread out the load.)