Gunwhale (sp?) timber choice.

[hairymick]

G'day fellers,

I am just starting a canadian canoe build and I think there is going to be some significant edge bend in the gunwhales.

Just wondering what would be the best timber and where to get it please?

[Boatmik]

The bend on that shape is quite modest. I wouldn't be too worried at all.

Unless of course the gunwales have a large cross section. Normal gunwale size would be something around 25 x 19mm - and you won't have any problems bending that or a little bigger.

As far as species ... it depends what you have available - any medium densitity softwood .. oregon, hoop pine, NZ white pine - all the species that I mention are available in Adelaide, but choice might depend on what is available in your neck of the woods.

MIK

[hairymick]

Thanks Mick,

Will explore the availability of Hoop.

Ideally, I'd like to do them in a single strip but will scarf if I have to.

[PhilW]

Hi Hairymick
I am no expert on this stuff but I used Hoop Pine on the Eureka. It bent beautifully and I bought it in lengths of 5.1 metres. It was easy to work with and looks pretty good on the Eureka. It was 25 x 19 which I got from Advance Timbers in Maroochydore.

Cheers
Phil

[hairymick]

G'day Phill, Thanks mate. Will check em out.

[yjnb]

hairymick

I am also on the Fraser coast and have heard good reports about "mad about timbers" (?Noosa) they deliver to Gympie and surrounds. Haven't actually used them. My Canoe had hardwood gunwhales- don't go there:((

James

[hairymick]

My Canoe had hardwood gunwhales- don't go there:((

James
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ROFL,

Yeah mate, done that too. Bloody near doubled the weight of my boat.

Thanks for the heads up re mad about timbers - will definately check em out.:D

[soundman]

Durian would be worth considering.
it's harder & stronger than it would first appear, pretty light & bends just fine and can be got in loong knot free lengths.....you might have to buy a 45x250 board... but thats no problem to bloke with a saw bench.

cheers

[Tor]

on the rub rail has anyone tried a thin veneer of a hard wearing wood or is the epoxy tough enough. I'll have kids paddling so expect a fair amount of paddle on canoe action.

Tor

[hairymick]

Thanks again Guys,

Yjnb,
I found a local bloke, Graham Palmer of G&J woodworkers in Maryborough who has some beautiful, straight grained and knot free Hoop in 6 + metre lengths. I rang him yesterday and by the time I got in to his shop, about 1/2 hour later, my pieces were cut and thicknessed to size. I am real happy with that and will definately be getting more from him.

G'day Tor,

Welcome aboard mate. I am no expert in these things but I think the epoxy will make your rails plenty hard enough.

[Boatmik]

In General ...

I have found gunwales made with timbers of a similar density to Oregon or Hoop Pine (or radiata for that matter) quite resistant to damage from normal use.

Lighter timbers like Western Red Cedar are reasonably easy to dent even with epoxy coating and will deteriorate faster from weathering because of small amounts of cumulative damage that is not really visible.

Sometimes I get the best of both worlds by using cedar (or even paulownia) with a thin lamination of hardwood on the edge - it can actually be very thin - maybe 3mm (1/8) through to 6mm (1/4) and can take a surprising amount of punishment as it distributes the loads into the softer timber.

So I would expect timbers of similar densities to have similar behaviours.

[soundman]

A very thin layer of hardwood would also significantly increase the stifness too.
Could also look vey funky:2tsup:

Hoop is a good each way bet though.....I like hoop a lot.....It s a real noble timber.... practiclay hard, machines & cuts easily, smooth grained and isnt too heavy.......also has praticlay no taste & wont taint food.

cheers