Birch?

[Dagon]

I've finally identified my pile of mystery wood as birch. I'm hoping to make various parts from it(seats, flooring, tiller). Could someone please tell me where (and if) birch is recommended on a boat?

Thanks,
Kellan

[Donn]

European Birch (http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood/birch_european.htm)

Paper Birch (http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood/birch_paper.htm)

Yellow Birch (http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood/birch_yellow.htm)

[ahp]

Birch is wonderful for wooden toys, furnature, and tool handles, provided that it is not exposed to dampness. When it gets damp I cannot think of anything that rots faster.

[Bruce Hooke]

What sort of boat are you building? If you are building a boat that will be under cover when you are not actively using then you could probably get away with birch for various parts since boats that are stored out of the water and under cover hardly get wet often enough for rot to even think about getting started. Or, If you are building a large boat that has a cabin then you might be able to use birch for some interior woodwork. Otherwise, it is not a good boatbuilding wood because it rots quickly. Also, it seems to me that it water-stains very easily.

[Bruce Hooke]

What about selling it and using the money to buy some wood that is better for boats. Birch is quite popular for furniture and toys so there should be a good market for it, although it is a pretty low-cost wood as hardwoods go.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Birch burns brightly and quickly when dry (good for biscuits in a wood cookstove) and rots quickly when wet.

Alan

[Dagon]

Thanks folks,

I'm building an 11-foot sailing dingy that will be cartopped and stored inverted and will be used for daysailing and possibly the occasional overnighter. I like the looks of the birch (it's American birch, incidentally), so I think I'll try it on easily replaced parts.

Kellan

[Tonyr]

I have a 17 footer on Whitehall lines, built of yellow birch, completely encapsulated with epoxy, just coming to the end of its second season. It was a great wood to work with, and stands up to abuse without complaint. I particularly liked its ability to be bent cold (no steaming), in moderately thin sections, and its apparent complete compatibility with epoxy. Its main disadvantage (for some applications) would probably be its weight. Since I wanted an all-round boat that could sail well as well as row nicely (and take a small motor as well) some additional weight was acceptable. In a design with no rocker such a a Whitehall, without good hull weight you would not be able to tack in any chop at all.

Regards, Tony.