Wood for cockpit sole

[Adam C]

Gentlemen,

I'm looking for wood for a cockpit sole. I would use teak, but I'm trying to keep my options open and frankly don't want something that pricey.

It must:

1. Wear well
2. Look nice
3. Be relatively easy to work and clear.
4. And be something I can get in So Cal in decent quantity.

Thanks guys, Adam

[TomRobb]

VG Doug Fir?

[Adam C]

I was thinking about that one, 'cause my hull is made of that.

But how does it wear as a deck?

[RGM]

V.G. Yellow Cedar can work out nice.

[Bruce Hooke]

In terms of looks I think a key question is the type of boat and what is used elsewhere on deck. If the rest of the deck is teak then clearly the cockpit sole ought to be teak as well. You could save some money by doing a teak veneer over plywood. If the decks are, say, canvas or dynel, but the cabin sides and other woodwork on deck is all bright finished mahogany then I think Doug Fir or Yellow Cedar would look a bit out of place, but it might work visually depending on the boat. On the other side of the coin, for a boat where most of the woodwork is painted I think a teak cockpit sole might look excessively fancy.

[RGM]

Bruce brought up some excellent points. What exactly are you working with in terms of other woods and finishes Adam?

[Adam C]

Bruce - thanks. Guys, this is what I've got:

The boat has a white hull. Cabin sides are painted white with wood trim. Deck is glassed plywood with nonskid. This is the way she was built, with the exception that the house sides were once brightly finished.

So in synopsis there is a lot of white. I think maybe I'll go with teak veneer for the cockpit, maybe 1/2" or so.

Here are some old photos (january)
http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=4292088765

[ 07-16-2002, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Adam C ]

[Bruce Hooke]

Nice boat! Yes, there is a lot of white! You could probably use a variety of things but teak should look nice.

If you're going with teak veneer I would go thinner than 1/2". I believe West System recommends 1/4" or less, with 1/8" being ideal in their opinion. 1/2" is thick enough that shrinking and swelling from moisture on the top side could break the epoxy bond underneath the strips. On the West System website there is (or used to be) a good article on doing teak veneer decks.

However, I should note that there are divergent opinions on this. In the most recent issue of WoodenBoat there is an article by Hans Viertahler about doing an veneer teak cockpit sole and he used 9/16" teak. However, he was re-using the teak from what had formerly been a solid teak deck so going thinner would have meant just planning off that much more good teak. In your situation, especially if you are trying to save money, I see no reason to go with 1/2" thick teak when thinner will do you just fine and should last for decades.

[ 07-16-2002, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Hooke ]

[paladin]

Absolutely...use nothing but pure grade A good old Tectonis Grandis!!!!!

[Bruce Hooke]

Tectonis Grandis = Teak for those of you (like me - I had to look it up) whose Latin is a bit rusty... :D

[Adam C]

Teak it is!

thanks guys!

Adam

[FParth]

Adam,
Is she over in the east harbor just off the main passageway? I think I've seen her on my way into and out of the main channel. She's a beautiful boat.

[imported_Krueg]

FParth, I've been trying to figure out where Adam's boat is from the pics. I guess I should've just asked. My little boat's on a side tie on "D" dock in Dana West. It looks like I live just on the other side of the 5 from you. So, there's at least three of us from south county here. :cool:
Hey AdamC, you ever need crew?

[Adam C]

Ekrueger and Fparth,

Wow....two locals! :eek:

My boat is the end tie on Dana West. It is A69/70

Ekrueger, What boat do you have? Myself I've got all the crew in need what with the wife and three kids, but I'm more than happy to take both / either of you out sometime!

[imported_Krueg]

Adam, She's not wood :rolleyes: , "the other stuff" but she is almost 40 years old and still kicking. My next boat will be wood, but for the time being, I like this boat. It's reliable (except for the fuel problem I was talking about in another thread), it gets me out fishing, and how many 18 footers have inboard diesel power? Anyway, here's a pic (I think, I've never tried this): http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshots/MomentOfFame/l11480.jpg
My dad raised me sailing, and I love to do that. I still go out with him occasionally (I've got three very young boys and it's hard to find time). He's got a Norsea 27 on B dock in Dana West. Just so you all know, my next boat will be wood.

[FParth]

I know what I wanted to say, I just have fat fingers. I meant the west harbor, which is where Aventura is located and where I rent sailboats from. :cool:

[Adam C]

EKruger, I like it. I was considering a skiff of some sort like that just to screw around with.

Frank,

Yes, I'm right down from Aventura. That's my boat just off the main channel.

[Greg H]

Cercis siliquastrum. ;)

[Donn]

Originally posted by Greg H.:
Cercis siliquastrum. ;) Judas Tree