Tranona
Well-Known Member
By the looks of it the boat in post#14 is hard chine planked in mahogany. I have a set of plans for a Griffiths designed hard chine boat from that period and looked up the specification for an indication of timber choice. I have seen many sets of plans and specifications in the past and many are as vague as this.
Keel Hardwood as available (my boat built to an earlier design of the same type was oak)
Stem Cut from oak or other hardwood crook
Gunwales Mahogany or pine
Frames Hardwood throughout (mine were mahogany)
Floors Oak or other hardwood
Bilge stringers Oak mahogany or pine
Deck beams Oak or mahogany (mine were mahogany)
Planking Iroko, mahogany or larch finished 1" no wider than 5" except at garboards
As you can see the basic requirements for the main members is stability, rot resistance and ability to take fastenings. Many other timbers, particularly tropical hardwoods have these properties so leaving the builder quite a lot of choice. One of the advantages of hard chine construction is that it does not require much in the way of bending timber into shapes it does not like, except for the chine and some stringers that go to the bow where there can be a lot of twist requiring steaming or laminating.
Keel Hardwood as available (my boat built to an earlier design of the same type was oak)
Stem Cut from oak or other hardwood crook
Gunwales Mahogany or pine
Frames Hardwood throughout (mine were mahogany)
Floors Oak or other hardwood
Bilge stringers Oak mahogany or pine
Deck beams Oak or mahogany (mine were mahogany)
Planking Iroko, mahogany or larch finished 1" no wider than 5" except at garboards
As you can see the basic requirements for the main members is stability, rot resistance and ability to take fastenings. Many other timbers, particularly tropical hardwoods have these properties so leaving the builder quite a lot of choice. One of the advantages of hard chine construction is that it does not require much in the way of bending timber into shapes it does not like, except for the chine and some stringers that go to the bow where there can be a lot of twist requiring steaming or laminating.