Paulownia Strip Planking: A Lightweight Western Red Cedar Alternative for Boat Building
Strip planking is one of the most popular ways to build a lightweight wooden canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or small boat. Traditionally, builders have used Western Red Cedar for the strips. Today, more and more Australian boatbuilders are switching to Paulownia strip planking: a lighter, sustainably grown alternative that is a pleasure to work with.
We supply custom-size Paulownia strips cut to order from our workshop in Hornsby, Sydney, and deliver them all around Australia.
What is strip planking?
Strip-plank (or "cedar strip") construction builds a hull from long, narrow timber strips laid edge to edge over a set of temporary moulds or forms. The strips are glued to each other as they go, then the hull is faired, sanded and sheathed inside and out with fibreglass cloth and epoxy. The result is a strong, stiff, lightweight composite hull with the warm look of real timber.
It is the go-to method for:
Strip-plank canoes and cedar-strip kayaks
Wooden stand-up paddleboards and hollow surfboards
Rowing boats, dinghies and small sailing boats
Decks, hatches and cockpit coamings
Why use Paulownia instead of Western Red Cedar?
Lighter than cedar
Paulownia is one of the lightest commercial timbers in the world, at around 260–300 kg/m³. Western Red Cedar is typically around 350–390 kg/m³. For a strip-planked hull, that difference means a lighter boat that is easier to paddle, carry and car-top, or the option of thicker strips for extra stiffness without a weight penalty.
Sustainable and readily available
Good-quality, clear Western Red Cedar is imported, increasingly expensive and often comes from slow-growing forests. Our Paulownia is plantation grown, reaching harvest size in 5–8 years, and regrows from the stump after harvest. Read more about the sustainability of Paulownia.
Easy to work with
Paulownia has a straight, knot-free grain and a soft, even texture. Strips bend fairly around the forms, cut cleanly, plane easily and sand quickly when fairing the hull. It takes glue and epoxy well, and it is easy on tools. See our tips on working with Paulownia.
Water and rot resistant
Paulownia absorbs little water and is naturally resistant to rot, which is why it has a long history in boats and surf craft. Fully sheathed in fibreglass and epoxy, it makes a durable, long-lasting hull.
Consistent colour and grain
We cut our strips from single, thick planks of clear Paulownia, so strips in an order have a closely matched, pale blond colour and grain. That gives a clean, even look under a clear finish. If you prefer a contrasting pattern, we can supply a mix on request.
Custom-size strip planking, cut to order
Every strip-built boat design calls for slightly different strip dimensions, so we cut to your specifications rather than selling a single standard size.
Custom thickness and width: tell us the strip size your plans call for (for example, the common 6 × 19 mm canoe and kayak strip) and we will cut to suit.
Long lengths: strips are available in lengths up to 3 m as standard, with longer lengths available on request.
Accurate, consistent strips: cut and dressed in our workshop so they stack and glue up neatly.
Bulk and kit quantities: from a single kayak to multiple hulls or production runs.
Australia-wide delivery: we send strips all around Australia, or you can collect from Hornsby by appointment.
How many strips do I need?
Your boat plans will usually list the strip size and quantity, or the total lineal metres required. As a rough guide, a typical touring kayak or canoe needs a few hundred lineal metres of strip, plus extra to allow for breakages and colour selection. Send us your plan's requirements and we will work out quantities and a delivered price for you.
Tips for building with Paulownia strips
Order a little extra: allow around 10–15% over the plan quantity for selection and the odd broken strip.
Use a gentle touch when fairing: Paulownia sands quickly, so use a firm sanding board and check the hull often.
Seal properly: sheath both inside and outside with fibreglass cloth and a good marine epoxy, and finish with a UV-resistant varnish.
Avoid the "starved horse" effect: sand with a hard block rather than a soft pad so the softer earlywood is not dished out.
Paulownia for other marine projects
Beyond strip planking, Paulownia is used for daggerboards, hollow wooden surfboards and boat interiors. See our marine timber page and our thin Paulownia sheet for skins and bulkheads.
Ready to build? Send us your strip size, lengths and quantity and we will get back to you with a price including delivery anywhere in Australia. See our price list or request a quote.
