Inwale Material

[Lew's Canoes]

Has anyone ever had experience using either red or white cedar as inwale material? I recently got my hands on a 17 foot 2x6 of clear white cedar, and before I start milling it into nice long planking, it occurred to me that it would make pretty nice inwales. Can also fairly easily get ahold of long straight grained red cedar. So any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks, Lew

[Max Peterson]

It is pretty soft Lew. I'm not sure it would hold up well.

[Max Peterson]

I am thinking of Red Cedar. White Cedar seems a bit more dense.

[Woodchuck]

I would stay clear of "cedars" for gunnels, stick with a hardwood like Ash... IMHO They are structural to the canoe and need strength...

[David Mc Daniel]

Alot of birchbark canoes use white cedar for gunnels!!!
later Dave

[Dave Wermuth]

Good to see you here. I was also thinking that BB canoe rails were cedar. They would be split and therefore stronger than sawn but still as soft. I do not think they worried about dinging the 'whales on the roof racks.

I used cypress and it is soft like cedar. I liked it. I would use cedar if it was leftover from making long planking stock. Long planking stock is a good thing to have. I think I'd turn it all into planks. But it would be light weight.

"stick with ash" ---pretty good pun.

[DAVID EDGERLY]

I have been using sitka spruce for inwales pretty expensive wood.i have been considering using eastern white spruce the lumber yards have boards marked spf not sure what i am getting.which board would be better suited for this purpose

dave

[Greg Nolan]

"SPF" means the board could be Spruce or Pine or Fir -- doesn't tell you much.