Searching for a small quantity of spar grade (clear) oregon hopefully SEQ area.
Any leads much appreciated, thank you team.
Plev.
second hand building supplies businesses. I obtained some a few years ago when I needed some fairing battens to loft a 38' cruiser full size. Found some close grain clear Oregon that looked like crap but once cleaned up and machined it was perfect.
This company is in Vic not SEQ but deliver Aust wide. Looks like they have good grades.
www.simplyoregon.com.au/qld-simply-oregon-timber
Select to expand quoter13 said..
This company is in Vic not SEQ but deliver Aust wide. Looks like they have good grades.
www.simplyoregon.com.au/qld-simply-oregon-timber
That's a really interesting site r13, I especially liked their photo gallery
Thanks GKandCC - yes websites put together well including a decent photo gallery inspire confidence in their products and services...........websites compiled like a ransom note do not..............
Funny thing is - according to Americans there is no such thing as Oregon timber, they have Douglas Fir, White Pine, Yellow Pine, different spruces etc. I think we mostly call Douglas Fir oregon here. To a Yank, Oregon is just a state, not a tree. It seems to be a thing here in Aust and NZ.
cheers
Phil
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
Funny thing is - according to Americans there is no such thing as Oregon timber, they have Douglas Fir, White Pine, Yellow Pine, different spruces etc. I think we mostly call Douglas Fir oregon here. To a Yank, Oregon is just a state, not a tree. It seems to be a thing here in Aust and NZ.
cheers
Phil
Correct. Oregon is Douglas Fir
I have huge beams of it stored on far south coast. About 120 years old from a job in Sydney. Beautiful when sanded fine.
Select to expand quoteplev said..
Searching for a small quantity of spar grade (clear) oregon hopefully SEQ area.
Any leads much appreciated, thank you team.
Plev.
Might be easier to get clear Hoop Pine in QLD not much difference between Hoop and Oregon
Yes good call Dialdan - Boatcraft Pacific are promoting hoop pine - Loganholme.
boatcraft.com.au/
boatcraft.com.au/informationpages/hoop_pine.htm
boatcraft.com.au/informationpages/pdfs/HoopPine-DouglasFirComparison.pdf
Thank you "Team" for great input to date.
We have contacted several merchants in Vic. & NSW. with stocks of spar grade clear (Douglas Fir) Oregon but the prices could be considered a health threat.
Hoop pine (beautiful timber), however, this is the last spar (bow sprit) to be rebuilt, all others are Douglas Fir (Oregon) and we have 60% of what is needed to repair this one.
The search continues.
Again, please keep the cards and letters coming in folks and thank you heaps for input so far.
Regards,
Plev.
Thanks for the update Plev.
Cripes are you making things too hard for yourself?
What sort of yacht are you talking about? If it is for a bowsprit I assume something sizeable..........so 40' or over but not the New Endeavour....
For a timber bowsprit with (presumably) a decent 1x19 stainless wire from the fwd end down to the cutwater, and 2 lateral 1x19 stainless wires out each side from the fwd end, the bowsprit won't see much bending rather compression will be the main loading, and a clear grade might not be needed?
If you only need 40% of the bowsprit timber the new timber could be spliced into the fwd length of it where the stresses are less?
I would expect and trust and hope that you could go to any of a number of oregon timber merchants in Brisbane or SEQ and get enough oregon for your 40% need, which you can hand pick which would be essentially equivalent to clear grade.
Based on experience timber yards don't like coves coming in and hand picking their stock.................but if you approach them kindly and explain the need most will be more than co-operative.
Hi r13,
Hard? maybe, I'm doing the foot slogging on this one for a very good older mate, (I'm 67) whom is not as sprightly as he once was and is not digitally au fait.
Yes his boat is a fair sized gaff schooner and both he and the boat are very traditional hence the attention to detail. I have contacted numerous merchants here in SEQld, none so far stock any Oregon. All can acquire it interstate as can I.
I have located some recycled timber but none that is remotely clear. (too many splices)
I'm sure we can find some for him at a reasonable price and when we do, hopefully I can post some shots of his work on it. Old school and meticulous.
Thanks,
Plev.
Well done Plev am sure your foot slogging will sort this out for your mate's gaff schooner. Look fwd to the photos of the results.
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
Funny thing is - according to Americans there is no such thing as Oregon timber, they have Douglas Fir, White Pine, Yellow Pine, different spruces etc. I think we mostly call Douglas Fir oregon here. To a Yank, Oregon is just a state, not a tree. It seems to be a thing here in Aust and NZ.
cheers
Phil
When I was an apprentice Shipwright we called it Irish Pine - O'regon.......... Get it 
do not use hoop for spars though it has similar but lower strength to weight ratios it does not have the rot resistance of Oregon
Many thanks to all for input, the crisis is over. Found some very good spar grade Douglas Fir (Oregon) here in Brisbane. Now, back to work on my boat.
Plev.
