winter project, insight requested

[2182]

that cedar boat is gorgeous. both hickory and cedar are good ideas. cedar is too light and wont contrast as well w/ mahogany though. i guess it depends what they have at the lumber yard tomorrow. they always have mahogany, walnut, maple, etc. ash and hickory are harder to find. as usual, many quick and intelligent responses from the csc family.

[McGillicuddy]

224466,
Look forward to seeing your project here. Or at least post a link...
Ditto on the compliment to Basspond's BB sneakbox. Beauty.

Ditto boatdotbay's sentiment on the solid maples, I concur - not good choices for boats. Good in a 70 degree kitchen not so good with the elements. Ever seen a maple park bench?

Questions... what type/method of dory are you planning to build (laps-trake ply stitch and glue, planked siding)?

The woods you might use for each may be very different...

Marine grade plys can be incredibly strong even 1/4" to 3/8" when properly supported.

Mahogany is classic, and excellent in every way; strength to weight; decay resistance; joinery, etc.

Regarding your distaste for oak - I understand that in red oak which is a terrible boat-building wood, and has been horribly overused in schlock furnishings and kitchen cabinets all across America. But white oak is perhaps the best boat-building wood for many purposes. Especially ribs, stringers, and knees. Nothing says well built boat quite like steamed white oak ribs on a small skiff. Its golds also contrast nicely with redder mahoganies.

When you speak of light I'm not sure if you speak of color or weight... As far as contrast goes keep in mind mahogany can range from blonde to deep red the - redder the better for boat building. While Honduran mahogany can be very blonde, the African mahoganies like Khaya and Utile can be much redder and have tremendous contrast. Cypress and southern long leaf yellow pine are also an excellent boat building wood that should be available down there.

I personally would dodge hickory and pecan (almost indistinguishable from one another as they offer nothing that white oak doesn't do better and they beat the crap out of tooling). Also white oak and mahoganies take stains very well furthering the contrast battle...

Sorry about my rambling I like wood boats

[2182]

mcgillicuddy, keep on rambling. like the ideas. going very simple, never built a boat before. want to keep as light as possible. 3/4" marine ply bottom, 1x4 vertical supports (rib style, but not U shaped), .25" mahogany plywood around the sides, mahogany 1x4 and ____ on the top, partially enclosed like a kayak but set up as a rowing scull. when i mentioned light, i meant color wise. i was thinking about using one wood for all the supports, and the trim around the gunnels, and the mahogany running the long ways on the top (think, older runabout style). next question: will i have to glass the whole outside, or can i just do the bottom and 6" up? that is how the "template" i got was done, but they also used drywall screws to hold it together and the plywood sides were warped and cracking everywhere...i want to finish the whole inside w/ spar urethane, not fiberglass. also, should i biscuit join the 1x4 or just use a glue joint? ive heard varying opinions on this...lastly, im going to look at white oak today. or i may just go all mahogany, last time i got it surfaced 4/4 for right around $5 a board foot, which is super good price.