Plank replacement

[LandLubber No More]

After much research I have discovered that the original planking in my 67 Pacemaker is Mahagony. By and large they are in great shape but there are at least 3 that need to be replaced. Should I be replacing with the same type of wood or can I use any suitable material. I am thinking OAK.

[sdowney717]

Has anyone thought of using IPE?
It is very stiff strong stable and heavy and extremely durable brazilian hardwood. And cheaper then mahogany. Only wonder if it could be bent, but if your bottom planks are straight perhaps a consideration.

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by LandLubber No More:
After much research I have discovered that the original planking in my 67 Pacemaker is Mahagony. By and large they are in great shape but there are at least 3 that need to be replaced. Should I be replacing with the same type of wood or can I use any suitable material. I am thinking OAK.Oak isn't a very good planking wood, due to its weight and stiffness.

Mahagony would be a better choice.

[brad9798]

Use the original if at all possible ... that way, you will be more consistent in its properties ... i.e. how it reacts/hold paint, moisture, varnish, caulking, etc.

I assume it is double-planked ... perhaps? Not sure if the inner layer would be diagonal ... if so, that can be a big pain if there is rot.

[LandLubber No More]

Single planked! Carvel construction. While we are talking about wood types, what would you guys suggest for the transom. It needs a compete rebuilding. I have had some suggest Mahogany plywood, will that do the trick or should it be more solid?

[Allen Foote]

Use mahogany. I buy from a local company in Marshal Virginia. Still around $4/bdf. They are a manufacturer of custom high-end moldings. See if you can find a source like that around where you live. Try a layer of 3/8 marine ply sealed with epoxy or CPES and then a layer of 1/2" mahogany over that. She's framed in oak but you can't plank with oak.

[Gary E]

Allen,
Plywood???? are you kidding??..making a plywood template is not a bad idea to make sure it fits, but even a epoxy saturated ply anything in the bottom covered with a normal plank will not expand and contract as the original mahogany will, and no doubt will get dammaged and therefore allow water to get past the epoxy covering.

BTW, those planks should be 5/4 or a actual measurement of close to 1.12 thick...

But to each his own..

G

[TimothyB]

You should definitely use mahagony, or another wood with similiar properties, for the planking. for 3 planks, it should not be prohibitively expensive.

For the transom, you can use any good, stable wood. I was thinking black locust would be nice and durable, and it is very stable. Douglas Fir would be ok if it was clear and vertical grain. You could use southern yellow pine as well, considering it doesn't expand too much either.

Mahagony plywood will cost more than mahagony, generally. Look around a bit as well, and use local varities of wood if you can substitute them.

As far as Ipe goes, that wood could be used for frames.. I wouldn't want to try to bend it. smile.gif

--T

[ 01-20-2004, 09:19 AM: Message edited by: TimothyB ]