Planking with Basswood

[John A. Campbell]

Has anyone out in Forumland ever tried lapstrake planking with basswood.....the traditional clinch nail or rivet and rove type? Or maybe even glued lap using basswood? I'm still struggling with the planking possibilities for my heartthrob Piccolo. I know basswood is expensive but not much more than "A" grade cedar and it's much more dimensionally stable and only a little heavier than balsa.

[jason stumpf]

john,
my big wood reference says: "This soft, light wood is weak and has a poor steam bending clasification and very low strength properties...The timber is non-durable." i'd probably use something else....
jason

[Thaddeus J. Van Gilder]

basswood?

That is like planking in yellow poplar... I wouldn't do it.

That stuff rots when you sneeze on it!

[John A. Campbell]

Thanks much for the feedback, Gents.......I kinda figured the stuff was susceptible to rot but it never hurts to ask. I've used it successfully in boat models for many years but of course that's an entirely different application as regards exposure to the elements......thanks again!!

[JimConlin]

Then there's Robb White, who makes small lapstrake boats of tulip poplar, about whose longevity opinion is divided. The trick is that the planks are sheathed with glass and epoxy _before_ assembly to the boat. Wood-glass sandwich construction the hard way. His boats are reported to be light, strong and long-lived.

Do some searching.