I'm always amused with books that suggest using sitka Spruce for a skin boat. If I had a piece of straight grained Sitka spruce 17 ft. long. I would hang it over the mantel. Sitka Spruce is like gold and just about un-obtainable on the east (maybe everywhere) The musical instrument companies buy it up years before it's ready for harvest it's so valuable. (even those in Japan)