: Wow, thanks for all the quick replies! I figure I'll keep looking
: around in HD and Lowes as they are about the only
: "lumber" yards I know of around here. I'm giving
: myself a year (at least) to build this boat so I guess I'm not
: in any huge hurry, just excited about my new found project. Was
: figuring I'd probably end up ordering something from somewhere,
: but am trying to keep the budget as low as I can (good luck
: right).

: I'll also have to check out the specific places mentioned.
: Armstrong Millworks, interesting.. I live in Hartland off of M59
: about 2 miles west of 23. Have seen the place, just didn't
: really know what it was! Charlotte sounds promising and not to
: far of a drive. I do travel to the UP quite often and know
: there's many mills up there just not planning a trip until at
: least X-mas and not sure how the wife would feel about stuffing
: a bunch of lumber in the car for the drive home ;)

: Randy, aerobatic airplanes huh? you've hit my other obsession,
: flying. Am a student pilot but haven't flown in WAY to long.
: Really need to finish that beast up!

: How do you feel about pine as a primary wood (cheap)? I know it's
: heavier than cedar, but any other real negatives?

When you get the itch to build a plane let me know, I have two partially built biplanes for sale. Also, see biplaneforum.com I helped start this site and it covers any plane built with wood / tube / fabric - over 1600 members to date. I also wrote the SkyBolt construction manual available on the site.
Pine is fine. Sometimes you will find hidden pitch pockets that can be cut around. Or, if small they work well encased in epoxy. If you are using cove and bead I don't think I would try going to thinner than 1/4" strips for your first boat. Pine does not stain well if that is your plan, blotchy. As far as weighing more - - until I get into endurance paddling or racing I don't worry about the weight to much.

Also, I live 15 minutes from Charlotte, their lumber is very high priced. I ordered from a small lumberyard in Nashville for just about 1/2 price.
Randy