: Hardwoods tend to steam bend better than softwoods. The wet heat
: allows the wood to be bent and then when cooled maintain the
: bent shape without force. White oak and red oak steam bend very
: well. Ash is farther down the list. The width of ribs is wider
: or the ribs are closer together when they are thinner. Cedar is
: light and cold bends to more gradual bends nicely. The cold bent
: gunwales, keel and stringers are held into position by the force
: exerted by the deck beams or ribs and the lashings.

I managed to steam sitka spruce last year, you do need to overbend it considerably as the springback is worse than with most hardwoods. It does though steam well enough.

Still, I'd pick oak first if I had a choice.

Might look at www.woodfinder.com for yards near you that specialize in oak, often the small yards will cut what they can get locally so if you're not in a real hurry you might be able to get the oak green before then dry it.

Bill H.