Would anybody like a momento of the old Woolverstone Marina?

[Lucky Duck]

The old pilings are for sale - http://www.preciousmarine.co.uk/brokerage/brokerage-boat-details/?BoatID=4522374&desc=4522374 - Greenheart Pilings - Each

 

[sailorman]

Seasoned

 

[jerrytug]

I have sent them an enquiry, as I will be building a new workshop soon. A material which is harder than oak, after seasoning under water, would be of great interest, not least to the botanists at Kew Gardens...
'Greenheart' could be anything, so I have asked for the Latin name and the moisture content, as it's not cheap. But I doubt I will get a specific answer, it will almost certainly be a load of soggy softwood.

 

[pvb]

I saw this pile of old piles on the side of the road to Woolverstone a couple of months ago, and looked up the online ad. Seems optimistic!

 

[sarabande]

hmm... greenheart is usually oak, but if 'pickled' in brine before use, they could even be elm - which would be almost everlasting.


£250 each is a bit steep, though.

 

[davidwf]

Its not Oak see http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/greenheart/

see the comments "Greenheart logs are reported to occasionally violently split apart upon sawing—sending pieces of the wood flying. As a result of this unusual characteristic, sawyers wrap chain around the sections of the log that have already been sawn"

Some of it has been up for sale over three years now.

 

[sailorman]

One could make loadsa fishing rods from one pile alone

 

[forelle541]

Just brought a pair of greenheart fenders 6m x .3m x .3m 650 kg each and £1100 each new.

 

[sailorman]

Just brought a pair of greenheart fenders 6m x .3m x .3m 650 kg each and £1100 each new.

Please please make sure they are stowed as you leave yer berth

 

[LittleSister]

I believe greenheart piles of some age (25 years or more?) were installed in the Broads a year or so ago, with many more years' working life anticipated, having been purchased from somewhere removing them as part of demolishing a pier or something like that.

 

[Keith 66]

Greenheart is one of the hardest most durable timbers known, each of the square piles is approx 71 cu ft, at the price advertised approx £3.53 per cube.
Try getting a price for new Greenheart. Best be sitting down.
Mind you the stuff is so hard that even carbide tipped tools dont last long on it so their isnt a lot you can do with it unless you need some piles!

 

[PetiteFleur]

Many years I was designing sawmills and I can assure you greenheart is exceptionally hard and difficult to saw. Traditionally greenheart logs were 'squared' by men using an adze. They were never sawn(in my day anyway) and if you look carefully you can usually see the adze marks. I can remember trying to saw greenheart, a log about 20" diameter - the bandsaw blade managed about 18" into the log and the wood clamped the blade so tightly it stopped a 60hp electric motor.
We then sold adzes....... and as said is highly durable and v expensive.