: 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.)

If you, I'm assuming for financial reasons, have to use this wood, oversize it slightly to allow for the loss of strength in the individual stringers. Instead of 3/4" x 3/4" stringers you can go to 1" x 3/4". You'll use a little more wood and it'll be slightly heavier but it should then be plenty strong enough.

Bill H.