Type of wood?

[Guest]

As my boat has no guardrails and no side decks the "grab rails" are used alot, they are wooden, what I'm looking for is advise on the best type of wood to use, it must be able to withstand extreme sun and heat, and be strong enough to put up with the abuse I'll give it.
I used Maranti last time coated with "marine" varnish they lasted one summer and now are splitting and cracking.
Any ideas?

 

[Strathglass]

Use teak if you can source it, failing that iroko.

 

[Mirelle]

Yes, but keep in mind that teak is not very strong; don't undersize the sections.

 

[Plum]

Use Iroko, but ensure you get some with fairly straight grain. Most of it is, but occasionally you will get some reall wavy stuff. Iroko is strong, easy to work if you do not get the wavy grin stuff, easier to make varnish stick than teak, can be left bare with no coating at all if you wish, works even better whan coated with Sikkens (see earlier postings on this)

 

[Guest]

I have used Iroko extensively and found it very good in bigger sections but sometimes tricky in small pieces. I find Decks No1 good for finnish provided you really do soak it

I think the problem you may have had with marranti more to do with quality than type of wood. Lots of places do cheap kiln dried timber thats slash sawn (just sliced like a loaf) Ideally you need air dried timber at 18-22% moisture quarter sawn or selected to give parrallel grain in the right direction for maximun strength (usually vertical for handles) and good dense straight grain to. This will then be more stable.

Roly, Voya Con Dios, Glasson, Lancaster

 

[Guest]

Iroko's great in largish sections. I've just got a really good piece for repairing my decklight from a reclamation yard. It was originally in a school science lab as a worktop! 6ft long by 3ft wide, laminated up from half a dozen planks 1 1/2" thick... cost £20