what wood ?

[deisel]

hi guys, due to come out of the water next month, ive got to replace four planks above the waterline which were pointed out in last years survey, what wood would you use for this, ive ruled teak out because of price and availibillity. originally the boat is teak upto the water line then mahogony on oak frames tia

 

[Kilo]

I'm a furniture make not a boatbuilder so you need to double check, however modern alternatives to Teak and mahogany are sapele, iroko and afromosia.
All of them are expensive and becoming rarer so should only be used very sparingly.
I have some old church pews in Afromosia that I bought 20 yrs ago, I've been thinking of reducing my stocks of timber so pm me if you're interested. They run at about 2.4 - 3m long, will finish at about 35mm thick and are roughly 350 - 400 mm wide, all rough dims as they're buried & have been so for a long time.

 

[Wansworth]

Larch is good all round boatbuilding stock,entire Scottish fishing boats are built of it

 

[Kilo]

Larch is good all round boatbuilding stock,entire Scottish fishing boats are built of it

Also far more sustainable

 

[Plum]

hi guys, due to come out of the water next month, ive got to replace four planks above the waterline which were pointed out in last years survey, what wood would you use for this, ive ruled teak out because of price and availibillity. originally the boat is teak upto the water line then mahogony on oak frames tia

I strongly advise to use the same wood as the rest of the above waterline planking. Different species of wood expand and contract at different rates with changes in moisture/humidity so mixing them up can cause long term problems with the integrity and strength of the hull.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I'm a furniture make not a boatbuilder so you need to double check, however modern alternatives to Teak and mahogany are sapele, iroko and afromosia.
All of them are expensive and becoming rarer so should only be used very sparingly.
I have some old church pews in Afromosia that I bought 20 yrs ago, I've been thinking of reducing my stocks of timber so pm me if you're interested. They run at about 2.4 - 3m long, will finish at about 35mm thick and are roughly 350 - 400 mm wide, all rough dims as they're buried & have been so for a long time.

New Afromosia is no longer available - it's on the CITES endangered list.

 

[Kilo]

That's why I'm recycling church pews.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

That's why I'm recycling church pews.

In the 60s it was a cheaper substitute for teak - I happen to know because it was used for the cockpit coaming of Halcyon 27s, and the salesman made a big thing about it when dad bought one! It has lasted well - Halcyon's cockpit coamings still usually look good. It doesn't weather like teak - it retains its dark brown colour - but it is still mostly going strong. I'm a bit surprised it was ever used for church pews - oak is very traditional for that - but I guess that for a short period it was seen as a cheaper and durable alternative.

 

[Kilo]

I'm a bit surprised it was ever used for church pews - oak is very traditional for that - but I guess that for a short period it was seen as a cheaper and durable alternative

These came from a 60's built church.
I've been waiting for the right commission but 20yrs on it's still not presented, I'll probably end up selling to a dealer.
Given the recent increases in timber prices is probably worth more than my pension.
I bought this stock of afromosia straight from the church but at one time there was a London based dealer in church furniture who'd have pews in all sorts of timber - oak of course but also elm, spruce. I imagine the makers used what was available at the time.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

These came from a 60's built church.
I've been waiting for the right commission but 20yrs on it's still not presented, I'll probably end up selling to a dealer.
Given the recent increases in timber prices is probably worth more than my pension.
I bought this stock of afromosia straight from the church but at one time there was a London based dealer in church furniture who'd have pews in all sorts of timber - oak of course but also elm, spruce. I imagine the makers used what was available at the time.

Thanks for the detail; it's interesting. I'm a lay minister so pretty familiar with church furniture! I'm actually quite surprised that a 60s church was furnished with pews, but I guess it must have been a traditionalist congregation; most new build churches in that era and since would use moveable chairs to provide greater flexibility. My own church would love to get rid of its Victorian pews, but the costs involved are high.

I think you're right about the value of the wood - Afromosia is in some ways better than teak, and it's no longer available.

 

[deisel]

thankyou every one for your input, as i have a good supplier for sapele im going to use that.