Alaskan white cedar?

[patrick corry]

I found a seller locally who is selling "Alaskan white cedar". I've heard of Alaskan yellow cedar. Any opinions on the use of this wood for ribs and planking? It all appears to be clear vertical grain material.

Alaskan Yellow Cedar | The Wood Database (Softwood)

www.wood-database.com

The Wood Database suggests that it's about 30% heavier per cubic foot, but harder on the Janka scale. Any opinions out there about it's use for wood/canvas?

 

[samb]

White cedar is not available in the Uk so I have occasionally used it on replacement ribs in place on white cedar boats when I can't find pale enough red cedar. It was expensive and difficult to find but worked well. The smell of stored potatoes when you steam it is great!

Sam

 

[floydvoid]

I used Alaskan yellow cedar on my lightning sailboat project- it’s definitely denser and heavier, more abrasion resistant. I think it’s more a type of cypress than cedar. I don’t know how it bends but I imagine using it for tight bends towards the ends of the boat might not work well. Does not hurt to try steaming one as a rib and seeing how much curve you get.

 

[patrick corry]

So.... I bought some. Straight and close-grained. Very tight growth rings; conservatively 25-30 years per inch. It has a very pleasing buttery color.

In order to compensate for the additional weight of this wood vs. northern white cedar I'm thinking of a future project solo canoe which incorporates the most minimal dimensions for all components; 5/16" x 2" ribs with tips tapered to 1 1/8", 5/32" planking, dacron or ceconite (and whatever the appropriate 'dope' is for that), and overall canoe dimensions of perhaps 14'6" x 30". It would be a (mostly) flat water light tripping canoe; think pond-hopping in the Adirondacks. I'm thinking similar to Alex Comb's Stewart River Boatworks Solitude or Unity models.

Fun to ponder, though it'll be a while. I have an Atkinson Traveler to finish first (primer, paint, outwales, & stem bands) and that work has wait until I'm healed from a work accident which has laid up my dominant hand for weeks to come!