Wood
From KayakWiki
Wood is a strong, light weight, kayak building material. It can also be used to make paddles. Traditional kayaks were typically wood frames covered with seal skin. Modern skin on frame kayaks still use wood for their frame. Modern wood kayaks are usually divided into
But, other methods are also available.
The following woods are notable:
- Western Red Cedar - a popular choice for Greenland paddles. It is relatively soft and not high in strength, but it is rot resistant and easy to work. It is suitably strong for paddle making. It is also good for stem and stern plates or even gunnels in skin on frame kayaks due to its rot resistance.
- Sitka Spruce - a very strong form of spruce.
- Douglas Fir - a stong but relatively heavy wood that is easily available in the western US.
- Ash - a very strong hardwood that is moderately rot resistant and an excellent wood for steam bending. This makes it an idea choice for the ribs in a skin on frame kayak.
- Oak - White oak is the ultimate high-strength, rot resistant marine construction wood. Long used in ship building, it is a perfect wood for ribs in a skin on frame kayak as it steam bends easily. Red oak is porous compared to white and is not quite as good, though many builders have success with it.
When working with wood, consider personal protection for the tools you use, the dusts you generate and the chenicals you may use for finishing.
For wood information:
