Wood species.

[Chris Owens]

I am considering an Arch Davis plan for a "Sand Dollar" sailboat as a project for my boys and me.
I have a mess of cypress and oak stock in my barn.
I'm thinking oak for framing and cypress for planking. I prefer West epoxy and a painted bottom. Does anyone know of a list that I could refer to about the qualities of these woods. I saw one in Woodenboat but I can't find that issue.

Any thoughts on this choice of wood?
Thanks

[ishmael]

I've never used cypress, but it has a rep. for great rot resistance. It is considerably heavier than cedar, but I think a bit lighter than mahogany. The oak would be good, best if white, not as good if red. Both have a reputation for being a bit cantankerous to glue, but it seems to be sucessfully overcome with various solvent washes. Do some searching on the forum, and discussions will be found, not only about gluing oak, but about the relative virtue of white vs. red for small open boats.

I'm trying to think of this design. Am I correct it is for glued ply lapstrake? In that case some provisions/modifications for using solid planking would have to be made. You might want to forgoe the goo and build it(or something similar) with traditional techniques. It's more fun!, and with the stock you have, probably more apropriate. Best of luck.

Jack

[Chadd Hamilton]

You're on the right track, Chris. Cypress is a very good boatbuilding wood here in the south. I planked a small baby cradle boat with it recently and I am using it to plank a small pram as well. When steamed, I found it to be alot less prone to splitting at the ends as compared to red cedar, and it takes a bend really well. As mentioned above, use the search function to find some past posts here about cypress.

As for oak, Jack is right on. If it were me, I'd use whatever oak I had avaiable as they are both pretty good.

Have fun building!

[Pelican]

Probably 90% of the old Gulf Coast wood shrimpers are built of cypress. That is what my boat, DOLORES CATHERINE, is built with. The oldtimers say to use swamp cypress not pond cypress. Please don't ask me the difference. :confused:

[On Vacation]

Cypress has somewhat of a tendancy to become heavy over time. That has been the downside with it here.

[Wild Wassa]

A fine list, courtesy of Mr Mike Field (originally), on the way.

Warren.

[ 06-18-2002, 04:41 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Roger Stouff]

Chris,
If it's reclaimed, old cypress (80 or more years old) then it's incredible stuff. If it's relatively new stuff, I've had lousy luck with it, unless the growth rings are VERY tight and it's VERY dry. It will not have the strength and rot resistance of the old stuff, but it's better than some other woods.

Reclaimed cypress is the same stuff they made all the boats with around the Gulf Coast, and yes, it gets heavier with time and water absorption, but a trailered, epoxied boat wouldn't suffer from that problem. A boat the lives in the water, even epoxied, probably would.

Regards from the Rez,
R

[Ruaridh]

Chris, have you looked at http://www.thewoodexchange.info/ ? They also have a CD which I bought lately when it was on special offer, I haven't really delved very deeply into it yet but it seems to be a pretty comprehensive list of species and their qualities, although I don't know if it has any info about suitability for different adhesives etc. Might be interesting to you anyway.
(P.S. I have no affiliation with the company!!)
Best Regards,
Ruaridh.

[Chris Owens]

Thanks for all of the input. I think we'll give it a go.