Looking for wood species in Asia for strip planking

I live in Cambodia. And I'm looking for an asian species of wood which will fit with strip planking boat building method requirement.
Today, it's difficult and very expensive to import traditionnal wood like Red Cedar, so I would like to use a local species.

Is anyone can help me ?

What are the requirements for a wood to be a good strip planking wood ?

Is it possible to stripplanked with marine plywood lumber ?

Thanks to all for your help

Daren

 

Daren,

Rather then asking us what you should use, tell us what you have available!!
Then we can recommend on your best option!

What do you mean with marine plywood lumber? Leftovers or the lumber used for plywood and that would be what species then?

 

Peter

I've made a mistake

I was asking if I can use plywood strips in order to use red cedar strips !

I will make a listing of the useful species from here but if someone have the answer it's great

 

Daren,

It depends a bit on the size of boat. I'd think plywood strips are fine when you build a 3-5 mtr boat, specially when you apply a coat of glass.
On larger boats I would stay with the cedar strips!

 

Wood species

Here are the common species which are easy to find

Cunninghamia lanceolata, Pinus massoniana, Pinus tabulaeformis, Pinus elliottii and Larix spp

Populus spp. Eucalyptus, Paulownia elongeta, Pinus fortunei, Casuarina and Acacia auriculiformis

Tectona grandis

 

I'll have to look that up in my Woodbible, will be after the weekend!

 

Plywood is useless in Strip planking. It's less rigid and you'll add concerns about glue. Sanding through cross grain is a pain....

Stay with wood...Scientific names won't be of great help at the lumberyard. I doubt that the guys know the wood by their scientific names....

Better go to see the lumberyards, ask the carpenters and cabinet makers. Touch the woods, weight, evaluate, choose one and take the risk to try it.

 

...I'm not sure of the latin names,but if you have mahogany in the right thickness to take your shapes,it might be good.

 

Hello,

I'm buildind cold-molding in South of China in Yellow-Cedar we also have Catalpa which sould also be suitable for molding.
Maybe you can find theses species in Cambodge as we are not so far

Maybe Teak should be a solution but i don't know much about this wood as we don't have it in China

Regards David www.solalelouna.com

 

Wood to substitute Red ceedar

Hi, I live in India and have had to improvise on our boat building projects. Fortunately for us red ceedar does grow here and we do use it extensively in our boat projects. Having worked with it our advice would be for you to look for a wood which is light , straight grained with contineous fibers and knotless . the other points to note are as below.
1. ensure the wood is seasoned .
2. preferably should be cut in autum ( less sap in the tree ie less water content in the wood )
3. study the grain of the cross section of the log or take advice of an expert before cutting the wood so your strips do not warp after cutting. Ie you can only use certain sections of the log for your strips.
4. do not use an oily wood like teak or eucaliptus as you would have delamination of your epoxy sheething in the long run.

Hope you find the advice useful .

happy boat building

Regards

The Fiesta Yachts Team.( GOA )

 

Light Red Meranti

Light Red Meranti could work. It is about the same as WRC in specific gravity. It is lightly resitant to decay.

Below and near the WL you might be able to use Dark Red Meranti. It is harder, and more rot resistant.

hope this helps.

 

I have come across Meranti in India before but are not aware of the qualities. I shall do some digging and get back to the forum .

Ciao
Maneck

 

David,

What can you tell me about catalpa ? do you have informations about its mechanical properties, resistances etc.. ?

Thanks

Trim

 

Katalpa

It's quite light (if you need i can weight the sample i have in thr factory and test resistance)
Big pores between the layers
Known, in China, as rot resistant
Cheap

David www.solalelouna.com

 

Teak!

Tectona grandis is the cientific name for teak. I would suspect senior members would aprove this wood...