Companion way ladder

[EASLOOP]

I am going to build a companionway ladder for my wooden sloop and I am thinking of using Meranti. The sides and treads will be of 20mm thick timber with a tread span of 300mm. The whole affair will be supported at the cabin sole and at the deck levels and will be 56" long. (excuse the mix of dimension - but it IS now legal /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Does anyone have a view on this type of timber?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Well, you takes yer pick...

...Timber from the Shorea species group is common throughout South East Asia, and in the UK such material is generally named based upon its country of origin. Timber from Malaya, Sarawak and Indonesia is marketed as Meranti, while timber from Sabah is called Seraya and timber from the Philippines is termed Lauan. Due to the wide diversity of this species group there is great variability in the physical properties of timbers and so the group is further subdivided into three types, each of which contains timber of generally similar properties. The first group includes Meranti, Dark Red ; Seraya, Dark Red ; Red Lauan. The second group includes Meranti, Light Red ; Seraya, Light Red ; White Lauan. The third group includes Meranti, Yellow ; Seraya, Yellow

 

[EASLOOP]

It is the dark red that I would use. I was hoping for information on actual use of the product. I see that the woodbook says dark meranti can be used for boat planking, keelsons etc. My use is purely internal. not sure i would use it for structural purposes as it has a limited lifespan.

 

[Spuddy]

In my latter days as a woodwork teacher, we used dark red meranti cos couldn't afford any better hardwoods. It's quite stringy and the grain tends to pick up and its a bit splintery but with patience can get reasonable finish. If you want to see what it looks like, look at the darker sort of exterior ply. Sharp tools will solve most working problems and round over edges well. If you are after function rather than aesthetics it will do the job

 

[tobble]

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Sharp tools will solve most working problems

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Amen