Hi Badinfluence

Typical, ask a male when a female is in trouble, ok, what type of timber is your gunwale currently made of...? I think it would be teak however I am a mare male and probably wrong. what would you like it to be made of and if we tell you and your not happy with our recommendation will it come back and bite us on the ares.

I think I may leave this one to Cisco or Ramona, I am down to my last life...?

LooseChange said...

I possibly qualify as "anyone else" in which case spotted gum is an excellent boat building timber and will the job you require quite admirably.

Too hard to get good stuff now and hard to keep paint on it. If its to be kept bare then teak is best but expensive and hard to find with out going to timber specialists. If you are going to paint then I would consider treated pine!

My fishing vessel had spotted gum cappings for years, could never keep paint on it. Eventually I did the lot in treated pine and painted with White knights paving paint[oil based] and it still looks good. Treated pine has the advantage of being readily available and so you can sort through and get clear examples.

I guess it depends on the situation. Are you replacing the whole lot or inserting a section? If it is the latter then you would want to match the existing timber if possible particularly if it is a varnish job.
The traditionalists would argue for teak or possible western red cedar and if the plan is to varnish it (and thereby enslave yourself to regular sanding and revarnishing) then my 2 cents worth would vote for these. If the plan is to paint it then I guess the look of the timber is less important and you could go with even something like treated pine as has been suggested. There would also be the other options of different hardwoods such as a mahogony.

I have jarrah gunwales and I oil it 2 coats once a year with feast Watson outdoor furnture oil jarrah colour.

Well if something is worth doing... then it's worth doing it right huh?
Tried tested and true.......... Teak

Sand Witch

Badinfluence

I must object, treated pine is not the way to go (bugger the price) for a start it is a softwood, will blemish quite easily, if you had an understanding of cell structure between a hardwood to softwood and had derived from a similar gene pool as I and had been blessed with the brilliance that I do, (builder for 30 years) there is nothing to consider other than a hard wood and I think teak would be your best choice in cost and longevity.

Do I sound like a man that has had to much vino, I must object strongly...?

Thank you SandS

Another man with logic and down right common sence

Buying even oregon in a local timber yard is getting difficult. Mate had to go to Sydney to a specialist to get some to splice into a mast. Some meranti is still available but its Malaysian and a bit soft. Nothing wrong with soft wood, my old fishing boat is 67 years old, oregon planks on spotted gum frames. Oregon is all original, spotted gum has been replaced in some areas. Chinese fir has been used in junks for ever, you can actually buy this in Bunnings under its other names.
Treated pine is about the only timber used for wharf piles now, see the odd bit of turpentine about.

From Tracy's photos I doubt whether the gunwales are teak, no one paints teak.

oh good lord, all this information is enough to make a girl just run away to sea...and so she shall...tonight in fact. helping my good mate Al deliver his...wait for it...mono...to Hamo for race week. Be back on the 14th to address the gunwale problem.
Once again, thanks so much for all your input on this one. Will contemplate it whilst savouring my time out there
Trace x