Cedar strips with knots

mvettori · Post by **mvettori** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:31 am

I am close to closing in the hull of my Bobs Special and I ran out of strips. I went to the local Home Depot and bought a plank of cedar to strip down. The best plank I could find had several small knots in it. I made several strips and there are several that have small knots. They look really nice and I don't mind them being there, but I'm worried about two things:

1) will the area around the knot be a weak spot for the hull, and
2) will the epoxy and fiberglass adhere to the knot area properly

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike in Phialdelphia

Juneaudave · Post by **Juneaudave** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:59 pm

You should have no problems with the knots, particularly if they are tight! Clear wood is hard to find, and many builders find the knots to be aestetically pleasing. You may have to take a bit more care around them while faring your hull. Don't worry and have fun!!!

davidb54321 · Post by **davidb54321** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:36 pm

Mike,

As Dave stated, knots that are tight and within the edges of the strip should not give trouble, and will add character to your boat.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:09 pm

A knotty canoe is cool.
It can add character to a boat.
I would guess that any knot larger than 1 cm will fail when worked.
The strength in the canoe is the epoxy & fiberglass.

The cedar, today .....is cosmetic?
It was used in the past because it resisted rot, light and there was a lot of it.

Doug

.

Glen Smith · Post by **Glen Smith** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:12 pm

I purchased some boards of Eastern White Cedar that were very knotty. If a strip broke at a knot, it become two shorter strips. After ripping the strips and routing the bead and cove, very few strips actually broke and they got used in one boat or another. Using a spokeshave to fair the hull was a bit tricky aound the knots because of the swirly grain. The knots caused no problems with the epoxy. Most people like the looks of the knots and they feel my knotty boat has more character!

cedar stroker · Post by **cedar stroker** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:14 am

Just make sure sure the knots are nice and tight. I once had a couple areas that where loose knots and did manage to wiggle around during the lay-up of the glass. If they are Nice and tight knots,then you should't have a problem.Knots are extremely hard,and might have a staple or 2 that won't work in that knot area.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:20 pm

I built a Bobs Special a few years ago. It was my first canoe and some of the cedar had some knots. At the time I wasn't happy with the knots at all. But in time I have gotten to really like them. They're kind of a focal point. Knots look good. You have to use a little more care when fairing them in .
Dave

Bud · Post by **Bud** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:06 pm

Here is a picture of one of my canoes made from eastern white pine with many knots. No problems.
Bud

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:28 am

Budd that looks cool!! i like it!!