Woods for barges

[milkman]

What woods would you use for canal barge fittings.
It may be painted but will need to be durable anyway as it will be outside and take some abuse.
Oak? If softwood what kind? Don't want to use ply as its appearance won't be appropriate for the boat.
The fittings will be fender hangers in case you're interested.

Ta
Marko

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Elm or Iroko

 

[JFC]

Iroko is cheaper than oak at the moment , well it is where i shop .
Teak is another option but pricey .

 

[CHJ]

Evil Iroko or Oak would be my choice on cost and being less dependant on finish treatment.
Elm does not like being constantly soaked and dried, permanently underwater as a keel or as a lock gate sill it is fine.

 

[Waka]

Marko

On my Narrow Boat I have used Oak with numerous amounts of yacht varnish, at £23.00 a cube its not a bad price.

 

[Bodrighy]

If it is for fender hangers don't bother varnishing it, it soon rubs off and looks tatty, soak it in diluted linseed oil really thouroughly, that's what we used to do on the ships. Either that or, if you can coach whip the part that will be rubbed with canvas soaked in paint.

Pete

 

[Max Power]

As previously stated iroko would be a good choice , as teak which would otherwise be an excellent choice is cost prohibitive. Elm although extremely durable when submerged (to the extent that it was used latterly for underground water pipes ) would not be durable above ground

 

[milkman]

all brilliant advice folks, thanks very much.

 

[DomValente]

Don't they make Chinese junks from Elm?

 

[joiner_sim]

:?: not sure but what about cedar :?:

 

[milkman]

Don't they make Chinese junks from Elm?

dunno, is elm native to east asia? They sertainly used to make barges from it. A friend's dad has just got rid of his and opted for easy old steel as a retirement prezzie.

I did know about the wet/dry thing though which is why I discounted it.

 

[Rich]

All I can add to this enquiry is that lock gates are made out of CEDAR and they are submersed in water 24/7, hope this helps.

 

[llangatwgnedd]

New mitre gates where installed on four locks on the canal with us, and the wood came from South America and after eighteen months, stills smells like dog muck.

Can any one tell me what wood it is? I have been told that it is Red Angeline but cant find any more information.

 

[CHJ]

Think this is it by the smell reference.

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/ ... rmelho.htm