A few years ago I got some what I think is eastern red cedar at the lumber/hardware store in Marine City. 2X material up to 16 feet, nearly clear. It's a bit heavier than western, but it only a few bucks a board foot. I usually scope out the cedar in Menards, HD and Lowes when I am in. I frequently find nothing, but if you look every time in, you will eventually have enough for a boat. I've got about enough for 2 or 3 boats now, so I am not looking too hard. I find that the clear lighter colored wood is hard to find. That I will still pick up when I see it.

: Hello all,
: I just got started with this project not long ago. Thought it might
: be about time I found some like minded folks to bother with
: questions and share my progress :) I've always been the kind of
: fella who gets an idea in his head and just sort of goes with it
: no matter how little I know about the subject matter, or how
: many odd looks I get from my wife. She's now learned to just
: smile and nod her head.

: Over the past two weekends I've looked at a lot of pictures, messed
: with the kayak foundry software, built some saw horses, put
: together a strongback, cut out stations, strung said stations
: and am in the process of leveling/straightning things out. My
: makeshift strongback seems to be quite straight level and
: well... strong. Much to my surprise and bewilderment, all the
: stations seem to be pretty level and straight without to much
: adjustment! I feel like it's coming together pretty good for not
: really knowing what I'm doing.

: I'm now getting to the point of thinking about lumber for making
: strips. I've scoped out the local Home Depot/Lowes and didn't
: see much that was very clear. Anyone out there in Southeastern
: Michigan that knows of a good source for stripping wood?

: progress has been made since this was taken in the name of spacing,
: leveling, and securing things, but this is my Frankenstein.
: Thanks to you all for this brilliant source of knowledge and
: inspiration.