7/16" Larch planks

[quixoticgeek]

I am trying to find sources for 7/16" larch planks in the UK for a clinker boat I am thinking of building, but am failing to find anything.

Can anyone recommend any UK timber suppliers who are geared up to supplying boat builders?

Thanks

Julia

[Peter Vella]

Do you have the ability to resaw from thicker stock? That should give you alot more options. JB Timber in Yorkshire specialise in boatbuilding timbers and will saw a log to any thickness you want, but you probably wont be needing that quantity of larch for one boat. Still, it is worth asking them in case they already have some boards in the sizes you need lying around.

http://www.jbtimber.co.uk

[St.J]

Julia,
Much of the Larch we get is imported kiln dried "Siberian" Larch. There doesn't seem to be much home-grown Larch around (Scottish Woods may supply some).
The Siberian stuff is used for cladding and decking a lot so most of the big timber yards can supply it but they won't be so picky about knots as a marine supplier.
Of the marine timber suppliers that I have used Robbins doesn't list it but told me a couple of years ago that they can supply it & J B Timber has supplied a lot of it so some very big builds.

Having made some attempt to answer the question you'll forgive me if I now revert to the classic WoodenBoat forum response and question whether you really want to do the thing you're asking about! Perhaps we need a forum emoticon that means "please forgive me for patronising you"?

Are you building from a plan/design? If so what timber does it recommend for planking?
Lots of the clinker dinghy designs I've looked at recently specify timber that is much lighter than Larch. Alaskan Yellow Cedar, for example is about 430kg/m³, compared with Larch at about 750kg/m³. Chances are, in a small boat, this will make next to no difference, but it's worth considering.

If you're able to go to Beale Park Boat show next weekend you'll get the chance to talk to timber suppliers and boat builders and ask them where they get theirs.

When you get to framing you may consider this yard in Wales which supplies green oak framing stock, wrapped in cling film, by post.

Let us know how it goes.
St.John

[Clencher]

Try this company:
www.sykestimber.co.uk

I used them a couple of years ago and got some good Canadian Yellow Pine (White Pine in US, Pinus strobus) for clinker boat planking, plus some S. American cedar (Cedrela sp) for the same.
I found them very helpful, and they had larch in stock and lots of other timbers.