spotted gum as a boat building timber

Gday all
My BIL has just purchased a timber boat (32 foot). Its made primarily of spotted gum, and it seems as though this is a popular species for building boats. I'm intrigued by this as it has a durability rating of 2. Can anyone enlighten me as to why spotted gum is such a popular choice. The boat needs a few repairs, not hull but bump rails, hand rails etc. I have nil experience in boating but do mill timber. I could source spotted gum but are there any other species which grow Sth East Qld that would be as good. The flip side to that is, what timber should we avoid putting into a boat.
It is my presumption back (flat) sawn timber would be the way to go (less prone to cracking through, but down side in that it moves more than quarter sawn) but am also keen to hear from others in the know re the topic. THanks in advance for any advice.
Frank

Hi. Footrot. These Australian natives are all suitable for boat building. However some steam more readily than others. I do not know what species can be sourced in your area? They are: Blackbean,silverash,myrtle,Queensland maple,satin sycamore,jarrah,Qld black wattle,brigalow,river red gum,Victoria ash,flooded gum,bunya pine, spotted gum and Sydney blue gum. Timbers from other States can also be utilised.:)

Hi foot rot.

I do not know, "spotted gum" as such, different states have different names for some of our timbers.
But I have heard of the timber and have also heard of a lot of boats built from it. So if that is what you have in the original boat then use it. It has already proved it's worth.

The only eucalyptus I know of which you NEVER use in boat building here, is Swamp Gum. I believe it is called Mountain Ash in Victoria.

This is a fast growing open grain tree, which rots faster than a fish in the sun.
It is a beautifully wood in many respects and air dried, it is lighter than any pine.

As for sawing your timber.
All your boat timbers should be quarter sawed. NO exceptions.
For our hard woods, remove all sap wood and all heart wood.

Hope this helps, but may not as I am in Tas.

Paul.

Forests NSW have (had?) a booklet on Wooden boatbuilding which includes a good list of useable timbers. If you would like an electronic copy, send me PM with your email address.

thanks all for your responses so far. I have about a dozen qld maple logs in the yard at the moment which I could put to good use, and access to bunya. Also have lots of Forest Red gum. Also a couple of short (3ish m) spotted gum (Euc Maculata or Corymbia citridora).
Hooked up-fair point re if its what was originally used, sometimes one cannot see the wood for the trees. I have a bit of a psychological block to it as I hate milling the stuff.
Quarter sawn it is, although if you have a explaination as to why that would satisfy my need to know.
THanks jmk I'll pm.
Cheers
Frank

pm received and email sent, Frank

thanks jmk89, have rcvd the pamphlets. There is some good info in them. As I've said before I'm new to boatbuilding so my learning curve will be steep, and any info is gratefully accepted. Another point in your pamphlets I did not realise is that timbers should have a relatively high miosture content when using. Makes sense when thinking about it as the atmosphere they'll be living in is wet.
THanks again most appreciated. Frank

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Originally Posted by jmk89

Forests NSW have (had?) a booklet on Wooden boatbuilding which includes a good list of useable timbers. If you would like an electronic copy, send me PM with your email address.

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Pretty sure this is the booklet you refer to - just click to download

TIMBER IN BOATBUILDING - A Technical Publication from the FOREST RESEARCH ANDDEVELOPMENT DIVISION of the old State Forests of New South Wales

I'm VERY late to this conversation, but, while Spotted Gum and Lemon Scented Gum are regarded as closely related and look similar apart from the delightful lemon scent, their timber is not similar. Spotted gum has long fibres and is very springy/resilient, which is why it is a good boatbuilding timer - it is resilient to the constant battering of the waves. For the same reasons it was used for dance floors and axe handles.

Unfortunately, Lemon Scented Gum is not so. It is a dangerous tree to have in your yard, so short-fibred that it drops limbs. My outlaws had a few on their fence-line next to a kindergarten. They were lucky no one was killed but they did drop limbs dangerously so had to take them out for peace of mind.