Wood for dinghy rubbing strip and west of Scotland supplier

JumbleDuck

JumbleDuck

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Aug 2013
Messages
24,165
Location
SW Scotland
Visit site
Thanks to the kindness of a forumite, I have just acquired a Bobbin dinghy in need of some TLC. First on the list are new rubbing strips - it's an early model without the plastic gunwale. I;ve never done this before, so I'd be very grateful if anyone could

(a) Recommend a suitable wood. The old ones look like mahogany, but would it be better to use something bendier?

(b) Advise on dimensions. The old ones look about 1" x 1/2" inside and out. I'd like to avoid steaming if possible, as I have no steamer, but could use the hot-water-and-towel method for the middle 3' or so, which is the only particularly curved bit. Is it better to use one strip or could I laminate from two 1/4" ones, which would definitely take the bend?

(c) Suggest a supplier in the West of Scotland. I have a feeling that there was someone good in Troon at one time, but I can't remember the name and Google isn't producing anyone obviously likely.
 
I consider them to be consumables and have built then accordingly.... At the moment its 3 layers of cheap 6mm marine 3 ply. When, not if, a layer gets damaged and starts rotting there is a layer of epoxy before the next layer gets compromised. Plywood also gives a good indicator of how long you have before you really must do something about it.
 
Not your dinghy, but I have recently fitted an iroko rubbing strake to an 8' dinghy. The cross-section was about 1" deep by 0.75" thick (estimates on the low side). It bent round the gunwhale quite easily without steaming. I got an iroko plank from our local hard-wood supplier; it didn't cost a great deal, and I still have a lot left!
 
The 'traditional' timber for this is teak, but it's expensive and the tradition is only 150 years or so!

More authentic for the west coast would be western red cedar I'd have thought. It has the advantage of being durable and can be bent cold. If you want to cut down a tree or have a raw log I can oblige, but you would have to do the seasoning, sawing and thicknessing yourself. You might be better buying sawn timber from https://shop.galgael.org/pages/timber. They have offcuts and can also advise. W coast and a worthy cause as well!
 
Last edited:
sarabande said:
Why wood? What about HDPE ? Or that recycled plastic "wood" that is made into benches and pontoons ?
Click to expand...

I'm open to all suggestions, though I rather like the look of wood for this. Actual rubbing will not be required, as a hefty rope will be going round the outside. Old school, that's me.
 
With that section Douglas Fir would be a good choice as it is straight grained and will easily take that curve without steaming. Mahogany would also do, but there are so many different types and some can have short grain which makes bending difficult. Much the same with Iroko which can have hidden curly grain as I just found out in the latter stages of making a grab handle from a gash piece.

Can't help obviously with suppliers but straight grained Douglas Fir is usually more widely available at timber merchants than hard wood.
 
Dougal Tolan said:
... 3 layers of cheap 6mm marine 3 ply ...
Click to expand...

AntarcticPilot said:
... iroko ...
Click to expand...

jdc said:
... teak ... western red cedar ... https://shop.galgael.org/pages/timber ...
Click to expand...

sarabande said:
... Synthetic teak ...
Click to expand...

Tranona said:
... Douglas Fir ...
Click to expand...

Many thanks, everyone (and further suggestions welcome). I shall have a sniff round locally and I'll certainly remember Galgael, who definitely deserve support. I've met one of their boats at sea.
 
Tranona said:
With that section Douglas Fir would be a good choice as it is straight grained and will easily take that curve without steaming. Mahogany would also do, but there are so many different types and some can have short grain which makes bending difficult. Much the same with Iroko which can have hidden curly grain as I just found out in the latter stages of making a grab handle from a gash piece.

Can't help obviously with suppliers but straight grained Douglas Fir is usually more widely available at timber merchants than hard wood.
Click to expand...

JumbleDuck said:
Many thanks, everyone (and further suggestions welcome). I shall have a sniff round locally and I'll certainly remember Galgael, who definitely deserve support. I've met one of their boats at sea.
Click to expand...

I should have said that I was allowed to select my own plank of Iroko at the woodyard, and made sure I selected one with straight grain.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
I should have said that I was allowed to select my own plank of Iroko at the woodyard, and made sure I selected one with straight grain.
Click to expand...

Yes, but there is still the possibility of hidden curly grain, particularly in the stock is thick. The piece I had was 30*65mm and looked straight from the outside but had a short are of bad grain about halfway through which only showed when cutting out the grab rail. Not the first time I have had that with Iroko. Risk is of course smaller with small stock like the 1/2" thick JD is looking for.
 
I would use thinner sections, probably laminate two pieces inside and two outside.
I'd probably look for some wood that was in need of re-using.
Using thinner stock, you can get away with simply joining shorter lengths.

If you are looking to have effective fendering alongside a yacht, I'd consider having only a thin strake outside and maybe more strength inside.
The best rubbing strake on the yacht side is foam rubber covered in canvas. It's not so bad for sitting on either, under sail.
 
lw395 said:
I would use thinner sections, probably laminate two pieces inside and two outside.
I'd probably look for some wood that was in need of re-using.
Using thinner stock, you can get away with simply joining shorter lengths.

If you are looking to have effective fendering alongside a yacht, I'd consider having only a thin strake outside and maybe more strength inside.
The best rubbing strake on the yacht side is foam rubber covered in canvas. It's not so bad for sitting on either, under sail.
Click to expand...

Sitting on rubbing strakes??? When the mast is horizontal you might not be sailing?
 
A and R Way, Boat Building are very helpful. They have done a lot of work for me and also have helped me out with bits of teak. I recommend you call them or email them; Lochgilphead, workshop, loads of wood, may have what you need at a fair price http://www.aandrwayboatbuilding.co.uk

I will be passing tomorrow and then again on Friday, so can collect if there is something suitable.
 
Dougal Tolan said:
Sitting on rubbing strakes??? When the mast is horizontal you might not be sailing?
Click to expand...

I suppose if you have olympic stand muscle tone you might be able to sit on the gunwhale and not be touching the outside edge. Doesn't sound like a forum member tbh.
I'm assuming we are talking about a 'rubbing strake' at gunwhale level on the outside of the hull, rather than something under the hull to protect it from the ground.
 
If it's just a nice piece of pine you are after and it's going to be covered by rope, toddle up to the sawmill down at Troon docks. They may well have pieces to spare. They do fencing and roof trusses etc.

Donald
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top