Elm for repair

[kgs113]

I am about to start repairing my first wooden boat. It is a Johnson E-Scow. It needs the deck recovered and a few ribs replaced. Its a double planked, cold molded hull. Several ribs have rotted and I have to figure out how to get new ones in. Boat comes to my backyard this weekend then closer exploration will start. Anyway, I cut down two trees this past weekend. One elm that is ready for the woodstove this fall and another that is still green. Is this wood worth getting milled for some replacement ribs? The alternative is kiln dried white oak. I've been a lurker for a while and I guess its time to come out of the shed! Thanks for your input.
Kevin

[Dave Lesser]

Welcome, KGS. Do you plan to race your E-scow on Chautauqua Lake?

[Bob Cleek]

What was the boat planked with to begin with? Are you planning to steam the frames? Dry oak won't steam bend for beans... you need wet stuff. Your elm might, and is suitable for frames, but paying somebody to saw a good size elm is going to cost you a lot more than some wet white oak. You may want to sell the elm, though. The wood could be worth plenty.

[JamesD]

Kevin,

You probably already know, but I learned there is a tremendous difference between different types of Elm. It turns out that Rock Elm is about the hands-down winner for strength vs weight, but Gray Elm and others are nowhere near as strong. If that's a Rock Elm you've got, I suspect it's quite a prize.

FWIW

Jim

[Dave Hadfield]

I'm afraid White elm has to remain either completely wet or completely dry to stay rot free. In a wet-dry environment it rots very quickly.

Rock elm is different. I believe it is far more resistant.

Both elms have admirable "bendy" strength, though they may tend to twist as moisture levels change.

[Bob Smalser]

None of these are durable without preservatives....Rock Elm the probably the most durable but won't take preservatives.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/htmlDocs/ulmussp.html


Soft Elms

Ulmus americana-American elm, American soft elm, American weeping elm, American white elm, Florida elm, gray elm, gray hard elm, rock elm, springwood, soft elm, swamp elm, water elm, white elm

Ulmus rubra-gray elm, Indian elm, it slips ooo-hoosk-ah, moose elm, red elm, red wooded elm, rock elm, slippery elm, soft elm, sweet elm

Hard Elms

Ulmus alata-cork elm, mountain elm, red elm, southern elm, wahoo, wahoo elm, water elm, whahoo, winged elm, witch elm

Ulmus crassifolia-American red elm, basket elm, cedar elm, red elm, rock elm, small leaved elm, southern rock elm, Texas elm, water elm

Ulmus serotina-Red elm, September elm

Ulmus thomasii-Canadian rock elm, cliff elm, cork elm, corkbark elm, corky elm, corky barked elm, hickory elm, northern cork elm, northern corkbark elm, rock

Working Properties: Elm is moderately heavy, hard and stiff, with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.

Durability: Rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay.

Preservation: Slippery elm is classed as permeable to preservatives, and rock elm,
resistant.

Uses: Boxes, baskets, crates, cheese boxes, slack cooperage, furniture, caskets, hockey sticks, veneer, pulp and paper manufacture.

[kgs113]

Thank you all for the replies. Turns out the tree got cut up this am. Don't know exactly what species except that its now firewood! May be able to find out where there are more or I could just get some white oak. I have local sources. As to sailing on Chautauqua lake, I don't yet know. Bought the scow before I sailed one. I'm a few hours from Chautauqua and Keuka. Got to have her seaworthy before I decide. Anybody have experience with restoring one of these? I'll post another thread for the E-scow with some pics soon.
Kevin