Thread: Is Cypress ok for boat trim?

It is probably OK so long as the pieces are high enough quality to work into the shapes you need. It is hard and highly resistant to decay even from attack from marine organisms (not that it will be under water!). Does not take oils and other impregnating preservatives and finishes all that well due to its high natural oil content, but takes marine varnishes very well. So IMO the answer is yes it would be fine and the colors and patterns with grainwork & knots are often spectacular. Brittle to work and prone to splinter especially when seasoned so pre-drilling a must, but in that application you would anyway. Marine grade copper or brass or SS fixings.

Thanks Bloss,

I thought it would be ok but always interested in getting some opinions. I made a workbench out of some cypress posts and some boards that I purchased from a demolition shop. The boards are about 30mm X 150mm and as hard as a rock.

I'll give it a go, It's a nice little project for my triton. I need to do a glue up for the cabin roof runners, Is polyurethane glue any good for cypres or should I use epoxy?

Thanks for your advice.

I also think it should be ok. It is weather resistant and reasonably stable. If you have some that is knot free and the grain direction is what you need then it should work.
Just a bit of trivia. On a doco I saw about the remains of the ark the archaeologists found the wood to be a cypress of some kind. I was not fully convinced why Noah would park a big ship near the top of a mountain. They never came up with a decent explanation for that.

Thanks Orraloon,

Great info. The fact that it was used in Noah's Ark must be a great reccomendation (lol).
It'll be a nice project over the next weelk or so. I just have to find the time to get out of the home office and into the shed.

Originally Posted by joe1957

Thanks Bloss,

I thought it would be ok but always interested in getting some opinions. I made a workbench out of some cypress posts and some boards that I purchased from a demolition shop. The boards are about 30mm X 150mm and as hard as a rock.

I'll give it a go, It's a nice little project for my triton. I need to do a glue up for the cabin roof runners, Is polyurethane glue any good for cypres or should I use epoxy?

Thanks for your advice.

I would use an epoxy or resorscinol glue. I would not be relying on just the glue as I said and I think you already mentioned anyway.