Marine timber supplies- west coast Scotland

[32511]

[32511]

...
Joined
18 Oct 2008
Messages
11,735
Visit site
I am about to start building an Iain Oughtred boat, and need a fair amount of decent timber (douglas fir?) in various odd finished sizes, some quite small for laminating.
The main timber suppliers only seem to stock standard sizes, and there seems to be a lack of people on Mull who could rip down and machine to the finished sizes.
Anyone any ideas, please?
 
You could try Gilmour and Aitken at Alexandria. I'm sure they will have douglas fir but they will also have pitch pine which is a lovely timber to wok with and very durable in a marine environment. They will only have off saw timber.

Im about 25 miles from them and if you could arrange delivery and collection, could run out the material for you for the price of gettiing a set of blades sharpened.

Cheers

Colin
 
tobermoryphil said:
I am about to start building an Iain Oughtred boat, and need a fair amount of decent timber (douglas fir?) in various odd finished sizes, some quite small for laminating.
The main timber suppliers only seem to stock standard sizes, and there seems to be a lack of people on Mull who could rip down and machine to the finished sizes.
Anyone any ideas, please?
Click to expand...

Try giving Sandy MacDonald a ring. He's across the water from you at Ardslignish. He has a small sawmill, and he also builds small boats, so will know exactly what you're looking for.
 
I fear my Westcoast wood butcher may lack the precision you require.
43326d6fd14a9f708416aa772ba7f94e.jpg
 
Thanks, NormanS- Sandy looks hopeful, and I have contacted him. I can see his place across the Sound from my window!
Phil
 
To address the Phil's question, every village on the West Coast is building or has built a St. Ayles skiff, also designed by Oughtred, I know the kits come from the East coast but it is worth looking at the website for advice on sources and types of timber used as some (I think) have been built from plans.
 
Last edited:
rhumlady said:
Ah but how many days will it take to get round and back and how many ferries:-)
Click to expand...

How many ferries do you want?
The Kilchoan ferry goes straight across from Tob, approx half an hour, and Ardslignish is a dozen miles along the road. Doesn't seem insuperable to me.
 
I know of somebody who lives in or near Lerags (sp) in Oban. He is a carpenter and may have offcuts that may suit you.
 
Quandary said:
To address the Phil's question, every village on the West Coast is building or has built a St. Ives skiff, also designed by Oughtred, I know the kits come from the East coast but it is worth looking at the website for advice on sources and types of timber used as some (I think) have been built from plans.
Click to expand...

<pedant>

St Ayles Skiff

http://jordanboats.co.uk/JB/stayles.htm

</pedant>
 
Quandary said:
To address the Phil's question, every village on the West Coast is building or has built a St. Ives skiff, also designed by Oughtred, I know the kits come from the East coast but it is worth looking at the website for advice on sources and types of timber used as some (I think) have been built from plans.
Click to expand...

St Ayles! :) Even Webby has got the bug :)
 
Corrected, my grovelling apologies, what sort of a moron confuses Shetland with Cornwall?

Seems so far, they have all been built from Jordan kits.
 
tobermoryphil said:
I am about to start building an Iain Oughtred boat, and need a fair amount of decent timber (douglas fir?) in various odd finished sizes, some quite small for laminating.
The main timber suppliers only seem to stock standard sizes, and there seems to be a lack of people on Mull who could rip down and machine to the finished sizes.
Anyone any ideas, please?
Click to expand...

Many folk around the Forth used these.


Abbey ST. Bathans Timber

Sawmill, Abbey St. Bathans
TD11 3TX Duns, Border Region

Telephone:
+44 (0) 1361 840251
Fax:
+44 (0) 1738 622492


These folk will send by road transport.

http://www.robbins.co.uk/
 
Quandary said:
Corrected, my grovelling apologies, what sort of a moron confuses Shetland with Cornwall?.
Click to expand...

It's a reasonable mistake, because St Ives is such a well known place for gig racing. St Ayles always reminds me of Lucy Aylesborough, who appears with Miss Marple in "The 4.50 From Paddington".
 
Yep; we are building a St Ayles skiff here on Mull too! John Addy is building it in conjunction with the Western Isles Yacht Club in Tobermory. I had a look at it yesterday; John should be slapping the primer on today.
He has a fairly well equipped workshop, and has machined his own timber to size, however he is a bit busy to take on outside orders, as skiff no. 2 is already being mentioned.
We are off down to Seil on Saturday to look at a couple that have been recently finished.
Robbins Timber? You jest! Three years ago quoted me £90 to deliver a 4 ft x 2 ft sheet of 3 mm ply to Mull!
 
tobermoryphil said:
Yep; we are building a St Ayles skiff here on Mull too! John Addy is building it in conjunction with the Western Isles Yacht Club in Tobermory. I had a look at it yesterday; John should be slapping the primer on today.
He has a fairly well equipped workshop, and has machined his own timber to size, however he is a bit busy to take on outside orders, as skiff no. 2 is already being mentioned.
We are off down to Seil on Saturday to look at a couple that have been recently finished.
Robbins Timber? You jest! Three years ago quoted me £90 to deliver a 4 ft x 2 ft sheet of 3 mm ply to Mull!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it can be a problem getting some of the specified wood up in Scotland.
 
Last edited:
Sadly, Sandy MacDonald is tied up with the roofing timber for the new Ardnamurchan distillery.
Looks like it will have to be sawn timber from Patersons or Gilmore and Aitken; I will have to twist arms to try and get someone local to collect and machine it. Difficult!
Phil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top