Don, you are right and you are wrong. There is a large selection of woods available. Most lumberyards carry what the Spanish would simply call "maduro." The big chains sell red oak at white oak prices and expect you to be happy to get it. I have used osage orange and angelique for various applications. For certain applications, though, it is better to make the extra effort and pay what may turn into extra bucks to get the boat right. I have learned the hard way how difficult it can be to replace internal structure that has begun to deteriorate after the boat is complete. In terms of effort and emotional sweat, it is better to do it once, do it right and forget it. It is possible to get atlantic White Cedar through the mail for what it would cost you for lesser wood. The good lumberyards [read: national distribution] list in WoodenBoat and Messing About in Boats.