Need help on wood type and suppliers.

J

JTaylor

New Member
Aug 10, 2021
16
Boat Info
20 Sea Ray Amberjack
Engines
150 outbound
Hey all I need help !! I've got a 1975 searay 20 ' Amberjack open fish center console. All the wood used on deck from gunnnel inserts to hatch covers are teak. My heart wants to replace it with new, but my wallet says it's probably to expensive.

So what kind of wood could I use that is easily available and would look good finished not kill my wallet and I could get 2 pieces that would come 1/2×10"×9' for the gunnnel inserts. The rest ie hatches ect I could use short pieces.
I know I'm asking alot . But any suggestions would be great !
Thank you !!
 
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Poplar is inexpensive and is easy to mill and work with. It does not stain well but takes paint beautifully. Might be worth a look if you can live with a painted finish in the application you have in mind.
 
Thanks for the reply, but I'm looking for something that can be varnished, so to show a glossy look. I never have don a project boat so I'm having to learn alot. Thank you again!!
 
Henry thanks but the gunnnel inserts need new I've never done a book project so I know little to nothing. Someone said to use mahogany but I don't know. My biggest problem is finding a supplier I'm in NC but have goggled everything I can think of but nobody seems to have wide sections like I need.
LOL I know someone/place would have what I need just can't find them.
Thanks again !!
 
JTaylor said:
Henry thanks but the gunnnel inserts need new I've never done a book project so I know little to nothing. Someone said to use mahogany but I don't know. My biggest problem is finding a supplier I'm in NC but have goggled everything I can think of but nobody seems to have wide sections like I need.
LOL I know someone/place would have what I need just can't find them.
Thanks again !!
Click to expand...
Boat not book Lol
 
Many of the beautiful high gloss finishes on older boats are done over mahogany. It stains and finishes beautifully. While not cheap, you are not buying a huge amount of wood. Even new teak might not be too expensive because of the small quantity needed to do the job. There are specialty suppliers of wood that you can google and locate what you need.
D0B3E1F9-385A-499C-9F90-CE4CA6A5347C.jpeg
 
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Red Oak might work for you. Not white oak. White is more common. But red will finish good and can be varnished. And it resists moisture and rot like other woods. Personally I like Purple Heart or Red Heart. The oils in the wood makes it so you can forget that last step. Just keep it oiled and it looks awesome. But I'm sure teak is a lot lower cost.
 
IPE deck wood might work if you can’t get teak. It’s very rot resistant. It’s insanely hard and heavy though.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 112054
Poplar is inexpensive and is easy to mill and work with. It does not stain well but takes paint beautifully. Might be worth a look if you can live with a painted finish in the application you have in mind.
Click to expand...
Do not use poplar it doesn't hold water well teak can't be that expensive or maybe oak it does well in water
Cypress would also be good for water
 
JTaylor said:
Henry thanks but the gunnnel inserts need new I've never done a book project so I know little to nothing. Someone said to use mahogany but I don't know. My biggest problem is finding a supplier I'm in NC but have goggled everything I can think of but nobody seems to have wide sections like I need.
LOL I know someone/place would have what I need just can't find them.
Thanks again !!
Click to expand...
Like @Henry Boyd sAid you already have the wood. Refinish it and put the high gloss finish on it
 
nelson Gay said:
Do not use poplar it doesn't hold water well teak can't be that expensive or maybe oak it does well in water
Cypress would also be good for water
Click to expand...
Red oak is not a good choice. It does rot and is extremely porous with its open grain. Once the surface finish cracks, moisture will get into the wood and its so porous it will blacken deep into the wood and can't be sanded out. I tried red oak for an outdoor railing into our house and it looked great for 2 years until the black streaks under the finish started. Can't sand them out now, so need to replace it.
 
The teak boards in the sizes you’ve specified would cost about $350 or more apiece and that’s a conservative guess. The length and width being the issues.

In your situation (covering boards for gunnels) quartered lumber would eliminate cupping across the grain but would nearly double the cost. This makes mahogany a better choice.

Whichever you choose, be sure to apply the same number of coats of finish to the back to stabilize it and again, avoid cupping.

Also when deciding which side should be the top, look at the end grain. You’ll see arcs that are the annular growth rings. Contrary to popular logic, the boards will cup opposing those rings and it’s better to have the middle of the board raise up than the edges.

Another thing to consider is that most teak is grown on plantations nowadays since the wild stuff has all been harvested.

This means that immature trees account for most commercially available teak, it’s often less attractive (even downright ugly) and large sizes command premium prices.

Of the multitude of mahogany species out there I’d be looking at quartered Sapele. It’s reddish color will fade to the same golden color as teak within a month or so.
 
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