r_h
Well-Known Member
It looked very good on the Spirit 50CR at the Southampton boat show and is expected to be more durable than teak, despite being a modified softwood. It's sold by Robbins Timber: http://www.robbins.co.uk
Alternatives to tropical hardwood
- Thread starter owen
- Start date
It looked very good on the Spirit 50CR at the Southampton boat show and is expected to be more durable than teak, despite being a modified softwood. It's sold by Robbins Timber: http://www.robbins.co.uk
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Steel?
mattbaker
New Member
A lot of good substitutes is there, but I think Shorea is a good one!
tolhurstorganic
Well-Known Member
Don't dismiss softwoods especially Douglas fir or larch Both available from UK sources, Scottish is best quality but some good stuff available in UK. Both these timbers are classed as durable and look good too, easy to work take glue better than hardwoods and are inexpensive. Slow grown larch is especially strong. Theres a reason its commonly used in fences.
Plum
Well-Known Member
3 years ago I replaced the crossbar on my boom gallows with oak. Bare untreated oak. It is now a light grey colour similar to that of weathered bare teak or iroko and looks as if will be there for another decade of two. No blackening or other staining and not a tropical hardwood. Maintenance free.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Contact Robbins in case they have any reclaimed teak still remaining at very cheap prices!
zoidberg
Well-Known Member
I have their latest list on my desktop at present. Sarah Goldstone's yer man!
Be aware. Some of those lengths have embedded metal chunks - mostly hidden - which swiftly chew up expensive blades and cutters. Resawing becomes very costly very quickly. Ask Robbins how they know....
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Quandary
Well-Known Member
I have larch cladding on an extension to my house with locally produced larch shingles on a steep roof, there is evidence of rot after only ten years but only on the untreated shingles where moisture is held by overlapping contact, the vertical cladding boards are coated with Sikkens regularly and are sound. Locally grown larch comes in three varieties, Scottish, Japanese and Hybrid, hybrid larch is by far the most durable but I am convinced that imported slow growing Siberian larch is stronger and more durable than the faster grown native product. The larch planking you see on local boats here is also vulnerable at the frames where moisture is held longer.
If you choose larch, allow for the reduced strength when sizing and pre coat or bed surfaces at fixing points so that moisture is not held by capillary action.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
I bought about a hundred kilos of the stuff and so far no metal. Holes evident where they've been de-nailed, just a matter of luck and taking care when cutting. In my case the chance of damaging a blade is worth the risk. Especially as I don't buy expensive blades!
