Thread: wood for runabout.

My only suggestion is to be going back to the plans or the designer if the plans are not helpful. You want the boat to be as strong and as light as possible. The designer would have taken this into account and designed it around certain species of timber.
Whitewood

Most designers spec what they're familiar with. It's imposable to keep up with all the possible substitutions in the world. Log onto a physical qualities for wood site and make some comparisons with the species spec'd compared to what's available.

Have a look at the plans and see what they specify for the materials for the various components.

Put a listing up here and I'm sure that there will be somebody that sort out what may be the Australian timber equivelent .
I wouldn't use blue gum for the stringers. It's too heavy and stiff for that component.
Celery top pine would be very expensive for the frames.

I have had a look at the bill of materials. Most things seem to be mahogany. It is a rare timber here in Australia.

Where are you located? If in Melbourne there is Mathews timber in Vermont or Australian Furniture Timber in Port Melbourne. They are both quite helpful.

If in Sydney Trend timber have a good range. On their website they have a listing for boatbuilding timbers. Don't know much about them but if you are starting out where ever you go ask them for advice.

Another place in Sydney for obscure timber is Anagoat timber. Have a look at their website they have an extensive range of timber and are helpful. They also have their prices so you can get an idea as to what the cost of various bit of wood are going to cost.
If possible but the timber so that you can cut it down to the various component sizes you need as opposed to getting the timber yard to do it for you. It will work out saving you in the long run. Even go to the extent of buying yourself a bench/table saw and do a lot of the wood machining yourself.

Just take care and don't remove fingers as well as the timber offcuts

Yer the plans are bassed on mahogany, have we got a timber in Australia that is comparable to this? And I'm from sa.

Otto Timbers in Stepney have been around forever and have an excellent range of well seasoned timber. Not cheap though. They would be worth a visit.

Yer thanks, Ken Otto recommended origon, just have to check the properties against mahogany.

I don't think that I would use Oregon for the components listed in this boat.
The majority of Oegon in Australia is plantation grown in New Zealand. It is quite young timber and is full of knots. It's probably OK for the building and construction but not for the type of boat you are building.

There are a couple of timbers that are a good substitute, in my opinion.
The first is a timber called Amoora. It is part of the Mahogany family of timber. I have used it for the transom of the boat that I am rebuilding.

The other timber that is generally available and has similar properties to South American Mahogany is Plantation or Fijian Mahogany. It is a sustainable crop grown in Fiji and is readily available. Has similar colours to SA Mahogany. It is used a lot for decking here in Australia so already comes machined to 19 mm thick planks.
search for it on google. I think you will like it
Have a look at some and maybe buy a little and try it to see if you like how it feels, looks and works

Cheers
peter

From my understanding the fijian mahogany is exactly the same species as honduran mahogany or south american mahogany. It was planted by the british and they have 70 sq kms of it. It can be sourced in various thicknesses. I bought 2 tonne at bulk timber prices of it in 141 by 32 mm and am using it for a boat I am building. I bought much more of it than needed and intend to sell the balance when I get near the end.

I believe it is slightly lighter in weight, which is to be expected in plantation grown timber. It works well and is virtually knot free as I got select grade and available in up to 5.4m lengths . I have a table saw, bandsaw and thicknesser to get it to shape.

I believe they wont sell raw boards only processed timber, but these decking boards have pencil round edges and are dressed. If you look on ebay there are at least two suppliers of the boards. Generally 19 or 25mm.

I really like the look of amoora, and it sounds like a good choice for boat building and work ability. I really had my hart set on using Australian timber, but that's not as easy as first thought, saying that I'm quite happy with this option of timber if its avalible in SA.

one big difference betwen mahogany and amoora is shrinkage so you will need to encapsulate if water ingress is likely.

I wouldn't discount Australian grown plantation Hoop pine that is readily available for any of the construction work. Best thing is to compare the specs.

Hi Guys,

I used Fijain grown Mahogany "Macrophylla Swietenia" (hopefully spelled that right). A place in Brissy imported a container of rough sawn and I purchased enough to finish Gentry. So far, happy expect for a few insect holes through some which I used in the middle layers of the cold moulding process.

If you look at timber for boat building, you should be interested in strength, weight, grain, but also ability to glue successfully, which is probably experience based and possibly its bending qualities. I have seen Hoop Pine used a bunch for boatbuilding so maybe it is good.