These replies are helping me to think about the masik's role in the frame. I suspect I'll stick with hardwood. I guess my next question, having never built a SOF before, is purely cosmetic: will the darker mahogany look funny with the light-colored cedar frame? I'll be skinning it with Skinboat shop's nylon and urethane, undyed, which I understand will yellow to a parchment color over time.

R