engine beds for Beta JD3

Can anyone recommend a type of timber for mounting this engine on, the timber will be bolted to steel and the engine bolted to the timber.

 

I am not an expert in this area, but I would be inclined to use oak, pre-drilled and then coated or sealed on all sides and ends and drill holes with epoxy. I would probably also want to lay down some sort of moisture separation (like tar paper or similar) between the oak and the steel so that condensation does not build up under the oak notwithstanding the fact that it has been pre-sealed. Again, the expert boastbuilders out there may have a differnt view, but that is how I would handle it. Just my seat-of-the-pants opinion...

 

A good close-grain old growth Douglas Fir. High density, good rot resistance, easy to pressure or immersion treat with wood preservative, very strong shear strength, good machinability.

 

If your boat is fiberglass, make a solid fiberglass L shaped engine mount then Glass it to the hull. I just made some for my boat and can upload a picture of them. They are about 1/2 " thick. They replace the same kind that where there for a previous engine, then there is no wood in the bilge to rot. The old beds where there for 40 years and I had to use a sawzall to cut them out. Then you can bolt your mounts to it and not use lag screws. Bolt is easier to replace if it breaks.