Scantlings - Spira Intl. - safety

Hi all,

Q) Home Depot pine stud construction.


Mr. Spira seems to have the qualifications to know what he is talking about. How many of the large(ish) pilot house boats have been built? On a drift boat or Panga, it makes sense to (possibly)build a out of pine studs - but a large inboard boat? Not sure.

Can a strong boat be built from Home Depot pine frames and epoxy? Seems hard to believe but I don't have the qualifications to challenge Mr. Spira. All of it seems to fall under the category "if it sounds to good to be true....."

Would like some thoughts.

 

If you pick the material, yes. You may have to let the material dry before using epoxy. I have used 2x4s for deck beams in commercial fishing boats with success. Who is Mr. Spira?

 

Thanks gonzo...

I didn't want to be accused of promoting something by saying Spira International. Jeff Spira sells boat plans for amateur "backyard" builders. He promotes (see videos on site) the use of ordinary wood (like white pine studs) over "proper" and expensive marine grade lumber.

He claims that ordinary lumber with "modern" construction and glue is as about as strong as proper marine plywoods and lumber. Or at least - will do the job with safety.

 

If you are fiberglassing over the whole thing you can use what is considered low quality lumber. I have built several skiffs with CDX plywood over pine frames with mat and polyester over the bottom up to the waterline. With a quick coat of paint they last a couple of years if left out in the weather. Take care of they will last for many years.

 

Wood choices are subject to the person's skill that's selecting the stock. You can find nice pieces at the big box stores, but you have to know what you're looking for. The 2x4's that come from Lowe's/Depot are white spruce, Douglas fir or short leaf, plantation grown pine. These woods can vary a great deal in stiffness, strength (yes they're different) and defect count. In all cases you'll be purchasing a #2 grade of material which is noted by the defect count per foot. If you elect to rip 2x4's out of 2x12's or 2x10's, especially if these happen to be 16' long, you'll get much better material, simply because to get long wide pieces, it has to come from much older trees, which will have tighter grain, fewer defects, etc.

To answer your question, yep, you can use big box store materials, but you do need to know what a good piece looks like. I go through 2x12's nearly every time the local store takes a delivery. Out of a half dozen pallets of 2x12's, I'll find 5 - 6 mis-marked #1 grade pieces, without a single defect. I'll also find pieces that are quarter sawn and straight grained, maybe another 5 - 6 boards. This averages out to be 200 - 250 linear feet of 2x12's for an hour or so of sorting through the stock, purchased at #2 grade pricing.

 

PAR, that's called knowing the craft of building wooden boats. I have liked your explanation.

 

The wood I see at big box stores is always nasty looking. Perhaps you get lucky. Use a sharp eye when picking timbers.

Better is to visit a real lumber yard and see what kinda timber they have. Plenty of good boat woods in Virginia and the mid altantic area. .

Also , your boat uses so little timber that cost is not a factor. Dont be so cheap.

working with a nice straight grain , defect free piece of wood is half the pleasure when building something.

 

Thanks for all the input everybody.

I'm not interested in building a Home Depot boat but it's interesting to know you can find marine grade lumber if you pick through the pallets at the big box store. Thanks PAR.

 

There are some pictures in this thread where I sorted through many stacks of 2x material and came up with these 5 quite nice Doug Fir 2x10s (bottom of the pile of course). The first one may well become the keelson of a boat I am preparing to build. The others will be providing various framing stock for any number of things where I want good, clear straight grained wood. I also picked up a bunch of smaller 2x DF from Home Depot the same day, 2 of which are very heavy, tight, straight vertical grained stuff.

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/wo...right-i-dropped-hammer-new-build-51985-2.html

 

Marine grade ?

Wood for boats doesnt need to have a ...for boats stamp.

Visit a local lumberyard and ask what timber he has.

Locust, white oak, cypress, cedar, walnut, pine, spruce......

Many times when you go to a lumber yard and start talking boats , the knowledgeable lumberman will take interest and show you to a stack of good stuff suitable for boats.