Hi guys I am in the process of a haul out and I am in the process of replacing the timber gunwales / rubbing strip , I was thinking of using Tasmanian oak but also saw some meranti today ? Do you think this would be suitable? They will be painted. Cheers for any feed back in advance
I suggest the hardest timber you can find since the rubbing strip is going to get rubbed.
I used jarrah for mine with a 20mm x 3mm strip of 316 stainless steel screwed around the outer edge of that. Remember to cut an angle into the lower surface so that the rubbing strip will slip off anything trying to catch underneath it.
Select to expand quotezilla said..
I suggest the hardest timber you can find since the rubbing strip is going to get rubbed.
I used jarrah for mine with a 20mm x 3mm strip of 316 stainless steel screwed around the outer edge of that. Remember to cut an angle into the lower surface so that the rubbing strip will slip off anything trying to catch underneath it.
+1. I agree with these sentiments, use HARDWOOD not meranti or , heaven forbid tree turd pine. 
Select to expand quoteUncleBob said..zilla said..
I suggest the hardest timber you can find since the rubbing strip is going to get rubbed.
I used jarrah for mine with a 20mm x 3mm strip of 316 stainless steel screwed around the outer edge of that. Remember to cut an angle into the lower surface so that the rubbing strip will slip off anything trying to catch underneath it.
+1. I agree with these sentiments, use HARDWOOD not meranti or , heaven forbid tree turd pine.
meranti is hardwood , but weighs a bit less than some other HDW
Select to expand quoteUncleBob said..zilla said..
I suggest the hardest timber you can find since the rubbing strip is going to get rubbed.
I used jarrah for mine with a 20mm x 3mm strip of 316 stainless steel screwed around the outer edge of that. Remember to cut an angle into the lower surface so that the rubbing strip will slip off anything trying to catch underneath it.
+1. I agree with these sentiments, use HARDWOOD not meranti or , heaven forbid tree turd pine.
Construction grade treated pine paints up well and is ideal for gunwales. The big advantage it has over hardwood is paint will stick to it and not peel in direct sunlight.
About to do a similar job, but going to varnish over it.
What would be the best way to seal the screws?
The rubbing strakes on the paddle steamers was Red River Gum.....now THERE"S a hard wood.
Tallow is a hard wearing timber ? But for the cost of it, why not replace it with teak ? and plug and screw fix .
The meranti we get won't last as it is a softwood and the better verities are hard to find and expensive.
Cheers JB
Pointless using teak and then painting over it. The various gums would be fine if you can find something that has been seasoned properly. shrink rate on Spotted gum is about 7% and sometimes hard to keep the paint on. Rot can be a problem with spotted gum too if your unlucky with the way the mill cut it. Very little demand for some of these timbers today so they are hard to find. This is a yacht and having heavy hardwood is not going to do much for the sailing performance. I would consider secondhand clear oregon if you can find it. Steer away from plantation stuff from the orient like Meranti, the quality varies. Having painted gunwales in a soft wood like off the shelf treated pine allows you to scarf in patches when required and over paint.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Pointless using teak and then painting over it. The various gums would be fine if you can find something that has been seasoned properly. shrink rate on Spotted gum is about 7% and sometimes hard to keep the paint on. Rot can be a problem with spotted gum too if your unlucky with the way the mill cut it. Very little demand for some of these timbers today so they are hard to find. This is a yacht and having heavy hardwood is not going to do much for the sailing performance. I would consider secondhand clear oregon if you can find it. Steer away from plantation stuff from the orient like Meranti, the quality varies. Having painted gunwales in a soft wood like off the shelf treated pine allows you to scarf in patches when required and over paint.
Thanks Ramona
I think I'll use the treated pine, I would like to chase down some Oregon but with a hundred other jobs to do while I'm out of the water treated pine ticks the box and keeps the ball rolling on various other jobs.
