Wood species for rib replacement

[BMC]

This winter I’m planning to replace some cracked ribs on my old chestnut. I’ve read that the originals are made of white cedar. I’m in the Pacific Northwest and white cedar is impossible to source locally. Could anyone recommend a suitable species substitute? Sitka spruce, yellow Alaskan cedar? I’ve got a good local hard and softwood supplier but can’t find white cedar anywhere.

 

[Gil Cramer]

Most of the restorers from Minnesota eastward have access to white cedar. Most can mill the wood to the exact size, and ship it to you.

 

[Gil Cramer]

You can also use western red cedar if it is air dried. It needs to be soaked for at least one day before steaming. Some Penn Yan canoes had red cedar ribs. They don't bend as well as Eastern white, but will work. You can expect more breakage than whte cedar.

 

[Benson Gray]

Both of the restorers at the links below can mail white cedar rib stock to you. Good luck,

Benson

Basic Materials - Northwoods Canoe Co.

Rollin Thurlow's Northwoods Canoe Company constructs, repairs and restores wooden and canvas canoes, offers wood canoe building classes, cedar and plywoodstrip plans, paddle kits, books, videos, and canoe building materials.

www.wooden-canoes.com

Island Falls Canoe - Custom Made Wood and Canvas Canoes - Old Town Wood Canoe Parts & Materials

Island Falls Canoe - Maine made custom built canoes, canoe restoration, canoe repair, and canoe building classes. We also carry Old Town Wood Canoe parts and materials and we perform repairs on wooden Old Town Canoes.

www.islandfallscanoe.com

 

[Worth Gretter]

I bought white cedar from Northwoods. Shipping from Maine to Albany NY was expensive, but it was worth it.

 

[BMC]

Benson, Thanks for the heads up on the suppliers. I’ll give Northwoods a call.