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Re: Material: Douglas Fir?
By:Michael
Date: 3/1/2009, 11:12 am
In Response To: Material: Douglas Fir? (Kudzu)

First growth douglas fir is one of the best boat building materials available. It is highly rot resistant in salt water and was used in commercial vessels for the centerline timbers and planks. Very tough. I once put a through hull fitting in a fifty year old bottom plank of douglas fir and it still had the characteristic sap smell in the sawdust. The plug was as hard and sound as the day it was clamped up to the ribs.

In my present project I replace the initial pine keel stringer with doug fir because the pine was warping and twisting the frame. The doug fir is not much heavier than the pine, but much more stable AND stronger. The only way to reduce weight there is to use WRC.

I'd buy all the doug fir I could get if it was a reasonable price. It's a treasure.

Um, where exactly is it located? :)

Michael

Messages In This Thread

Material: Douglas Fir?
Kudzu -- 2/28/2009, 3:17 pm
Re: Material: Douglas Fir?
Scott Baxter -- 3/1/2009, 12:51 pm
Re: Material: Douglas Fir?
Michael -- 3/1/2009, 11:12 am
Re: Material: Douglas Fir?
Bill Hamm -- 3/1/2009, 12:52 am
Re: Material: Douglas Fir?
Paul Lueders -- 2/28/2009, 5:42 pm