Thread: Boat framing - Tas Oak or Durian ??

Hi Peter
I have been meaning to check out that spotted stuff, will definitely make an effort.... most likely place I guess would be out at Otto's? at Stepney (SA). Hardwood? dense? Heavy? - will get some idea when it handle a bit of it.......
Will be looking for some more wood in a few weeks for the keelson etc... oh so many choices

Happy building, boating and the like

Aberdeen

Don't forget Bone Bros on South Road (near the Cross Rd bridge) and Le Messuriers (or however you spell it) at Pt Adelaide.

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

Don't forget Bone Bros on South Road (near the Cross Rd bridge) and Le Messuriers (or however you spell it) at Pt Adelaide.

Richard

Richard,
So true, at least I can afford to look at timber at Bones and it is just around the corner from work )
Have you played with the spotty stuff?

Plenty of boats back in the 50's & 60's were planked in "island mahogany" or - what we now call meranti - without any problems. I have worked on many of these olds boats & rot was no more a problem than with any other timber.

Now, Durian, not so sure. I have planked boats with it, and it was great to work with & available in long clear lengths, but I suspect it will not be as durable as meranti or other timbers.

Howdy,

I don't know a lot about wood species in general, but I do know about meranti.

The deep red, dense stuff is quite good as a boatbuilding timber. However if it has any of the lighter pink stuff in it, then galloping rot is a huge problem.

If you handle the two types they are like they are from different trees.

It is hard to get the dense red stuff now.

Michael.

Originally Posted by Boatmik

Howdy,

I don't know a lot about wood species in general, but I do know about meranti.

The deep red, dense stuff is quite good as a boatbuilding timber. However if it has any of the lighter pink stuff in it, then galloping rot is a huge problem.

If you handle the two types they are like they are from different trees.

It is hard to get the dense red stuff now.

Michael.

Mik, as you've guessed, they're different species. Proper meranti comes from malaysia, and as you describe, is quite dense & hard. Most of what we see now is lighter, and I believe comes from 2-3 different trees from a few locations in south-east asia - Pacific maple is one of these, but even then, some of it is very good - the British Standard BS1088 "Pink Species" marine ply is an example - my price list states "Okume or Malaysian Hardwood is used to manufacture this premium quality A-A ply"

I've had a couple of boats planked with this ply in the water about 5 years now with no sign of problems, so I trust the plywood - and if I could be guaranteed it was the same stuff, I'd be happy with solid timber of the same species (not that I've found it). All comes down to trusting your supplier, I guess.....?

All timbers will rot - even that holy grail of boat building, Huon Pine. Now, I've worked with Huon on & off for almost 20 years & love it, but I know a well-known boat builder in Melbourne, in his mid-80's, who was never that impressed with it (a rare opinion, admitedly, but a more skilled traditional boat builder you won't find). Preparation, Paint & Persevereance (with maintenance) is the answer.......