Douglas Fir for Sharpie (W. NJ)

[SBrookman]

Looking for some DF to build Parker's 19' Ohio Sharpie. Have struck out at two local lumber yards. Both say they cannot get select DF in anything greater than 1".

1/4" Marine Ply might be a problem also.

Any suggestions either locally, western NJ, or internet? (I searched the forum and didn't see any threads that helped.)

Thanks,

[Gary Bergman]

Handloggers Hardwood Lumber
305 Cutting Blvd
Richmond, CA 94804
USA

tel: 510-231-6190
tel: 800-461-1969
fax: 510-231-6199
253
Ask for Tim; they have most anything you want, and will ship

[Bob Smalser]

In New Jersey I'd be calling nearby arborists searching for green or airdried White Oak for framing and looking on Woodweb, Woodfinder and the Forestry Forum for a local guy milling Atlantic White Cedar down in the barrens. You might do a search here in R&PS, a few months back someone posted a good AWC source near you at around 2 bucks a BF.

Building with what grows around you is always greenist, often cheapest, and usually best. Sassafras and Black Locust are also local woods perfect for your application. And there also should be no shortage of old apple orchards and Osage Orange hedgerows on old dairy farms for crooks for knees.

[donald branscom]

Looking for some DF to build Parker's 19' Ohio Sharpie. Have struck out at two local lumber yards. Both say they cannot get select DF in anything greater than 1".

1/4" Marine Ply might be a problem also.

Any suggestions either locally, western NJ, or internet? (I searched the forum and didn't see any threads that helped.)

Thanks,

What about re- sawing thicker boards?
That is what i did to build my boat with Douglas fir.

I live in Guerneville, California and only 3 miles from a lumber mill.
They helped me a lot. I was very fortunate.
When i needed 20 foot boards any size they would cut them for me.

[JimConlin]

In my area, yards carry DF in :
1x4 decking
2x6
4x4 and up

[Mike Dawson]

Looking for some DF to build Parker's 19' Ohio Sharpie. Have struck out at two local lumber yards. Both say they cannot get select DF in anything greater than 1".

1/4" Marine Ply might be a problem also.

Any suggestions either locally, western NJ, or internet? (I searched the forum and didn't see any threads that helped.)

Thanks,

I hope that you are not looking at Home Depot and Lowes. You need a REAL lumberyard, one that supplies commercial builders. They sell DF everyday.

[SBrookman]

I hope that you are not looking at Home Depot and Lowes. You need a REAL lumberyard, one that supplies commercial builders. They sell DF everyday.

Have avoided the big boxes, been calling/looking at the local lumber yards. Found some clear 1" DF in various widths, but all have balked at supplying 4x4's. May have to do some laminating.

Since I promised the wife I'd get the loft above the boat workshop (her work area) finished before I start the sharpie, this is not a rush project. Still have time to hunt the wood down. We're new to the area so don't have much local knowledge. Sure miss Alva Hardwoods near our place in Florida.

[Varna]

Along the lines of what Donald said- Since you have time and the fall seasons cooler weather is approaching you could go this route and have very excellent material- this is what I have been able to do here and should work in NJ-

Find a good commercial yard as mentioned already-one that has more contractor accounts and trucks in the lot than SUV's.
They should have large timber for beams and posts in commercial projects-hopefully-maybe more lam-ntd stuff and engineered osb product in your area. 6x6, 6x8, 6x12 etc. These are in typically in long lengths.

If you can pick through you can find suitable stuff. Take it home and resaw. But if you have a light weight saw this won't work. I break them down before the table saw with a Skill77 and hand rip saw before table saw just to deal with the weight.

I prefer cool days to do this so the drying goes slow in the initial dry phase. Sticker and cover proper for winter drying. To really be seasoned best before building it is ideal to go through a full year or more if you build a glued boat.

Just a thought if you have the tools for this approach.

[Bruce Hooke]

I agree with Bob that you should think hard about trying to find a local wood that will meet your needs, and ideally a local sawmill from which to buy it.

That said, if you don't want to go down that road, one place you should know about for hardwoods and specialty softwoods is:

M.L. CONDON
248 Ferris Ave.
White Plains, NY 10603
tel: 914-946-4111
fax: 914-946-3779

I have never actually been there or bought anything from them, but it is a name I've been hearing bounced around in boatbuilding circles for something like 20 years (according to one reference I found, they have been in business since 1923). As far as I can tell they do not have a website.

A good website to know about is http://www.woodfinder.com. A search on that website for Douglas Fir using the zip code for White Plains, NY (because it was handy) turns up this listing, which might be of interest: http://www.woodfinder.com/listings/012909.php

[Mrleft8]

Boy....... If you say you miss a Florida lumberyard, you must be seriously looking in the wrong places. I never found anything near what I'd call a lumberyard in Florida. You live near small mill heaven where you are right now. Contact "Woodmizer" sawmills and they'll hook you up with a local sawyer. Barring that, tell me what you need and I'll have my local guy up here cut it for you, and you can either come get it, or hire atruck to haul it down to you.
As for M.L. Condon...... Yes they have lots of good stock....At boutique New York suburbanite yuppie BMW prices.

[Bruce Hooke]

As for M.L. Condon...... Yes they have lots of good stock....At boutique New York suburbanite yuppie BMW prices.

:D
I've never been to M.L. Condon but I imagine their prices are reasonably comparable to other hardwood lumber yards (not sawmills), no? Certainly, hardwood lumber yards always charge a LOT more than sawmills in my experience.

I mentioned Condon as a source for wood that is not native to the northeast, because I presume "your guy" does not cut stuff like Douglas Fir, true? That said, price is one of many good reasons to go with local woods where there are suitable.

[Pericles]

http://boatbuildercentral.com/ will supply all over the US.

Pericles

[Philip Maynard]

1000 Randall Ave., Boothwyn, PA, United States
(610)485-1812, USA (610)485-1829 fax, http://ww2.truevalue.com/dcsc

They are a few min from the Commodore Barry Bridge. They are primarily a supplier for the local contractors and carry all kinds of wood as well as exotic hardwoods. They also have a woodwork shop on site and if you are buying white oak rough for example they can surface S2S to whatever thickness you want while you wait. They have a variety of clear DF but you have to call them, their web site is pretty much useless for any detail on their stock.

[SBrookman]

Boy....... If you say you miss a Florida lumberyard, you must be seriously looking in the wrong places. I never found anything near what I'd call a lumberyard in Florida. You live near small mill heaven where you are right now. Contact "Woodmizer" sawmills and they'll hook you up with a local sawyer. Barring that, tell me what you need and I'll have my local guy up here cut it for you, and you can either come get it, or hire atruck to haul it down to you.
As for M.L. Condon...... Yes they have lots of good stock....At boutique New York suburbanite yuppie BMW prices.

Then you missed Merrill Morrison of Alva Hardwoods (http://www.alvahardwoods.com/), not a lumberyard but an exotic wood delight and a great guy who'll talk wood with ya.

Thanks for all the advice from all the senior members. Should have enough leads to get going on the project. I won't ask for advice on finishing the loft, but I could sure use the help! I'm chomping at the bit to start on the boat.