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Wood for Boatbuilding

PolySail International

Wood Preference Table for Boat Builders

 

Here are boat builder Sam Rabl’s recommendations of the best woods for various boat parts. Lowest number is the first choice. The table can also be used as a substitution table for builders who have difficulty getting a particular wood in their locality.

 

Keel

Stem

Stern Post

Dead wood

Apron

Floors

Frames Bent

Frames Sawed

Chines

Clamps

Deck

Beams

Planking

Sheer Strake

Decking Bare

Deck Canvas

Transom

Cabin

Stills

Cabin  Sides

Cabin Top,cvd.

Guards

Joiner Work

Spars

Teak

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

1

1

 

1

1

 

 

1

 

 

Mahogany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

1

2

2

 

1

 

1

 

 

1

 

Live

Oak

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

 

1

 

 

1

1

3

 

1

 

 

White Oak

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

 

 

1

1

2

 

1

 

 

Red

Oak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

2

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

2

 

Ash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

3

3

3

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

Pine, Long Leaf

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

3

2

 

 

2

 

 

Pine

Short

Leaf

4

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

Pine,

Oregon

4

 

 

3

3

3

 

3

 

 

2

3

3

 

1

3

3

 

 

 

 

2

Cedar

White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

Cedar

Southern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

Cedar

Western

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

Cypress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

3

3

Redwood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

3

2

 

 

 

2

 

3

 

White

Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

1

 

 

 

1

 

2

3

Sugar

Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

4

 

Ponderosa

Pine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

4

4

Silver

Spruce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Sitka

Spruce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Fir

Common

4

 

4

4

3

4

 

4

 

 

4

4

4

4

4

 

4

 

 

 

 

4

Apitong

3

2

2

2

2

3

 

2

1

 

2

 

2

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

Acacia

2

1

1

1

1

2

 

2

 

 

1

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camphor

Wood

2