Wood. the traditional boat building material used for hull and spar construction. it is buoyant, widely available and easily worked. it is a popular material for small boats (of e.g. 6-metre (20 ft) length; such as dinghies and sailboats).. Thousands of species of wood grow throughout the world. boat building requires a certain wood that has characteristics suitable for a marine environment. boat building wood can not be too soft, brittle, decay-prone, light and airy, or too short to fabricate necessary lengths for keels and planking.. Timber for wooden boat building. there are quite a number of timber varieties which are suitable for wooden boat building..
There are several types of mahogany plywood that may be used, but african okoume is the most economical and the most common. other species, such as khaya and sapele are also suitable, if a little heavier. when buying mahogany plywood, look for a stamp reading bs1088 – this is the minimum grade acceptable for boat building.. Since building of wooden boats is a very old tradition and skill, it has always depended on local materials. the vikings did definitely not get mahogany or teak anywhere, but they had vast forests full of a variety of good building material, mostly pine and fir.. Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled. it is particularly valued for its durability and water resistance, and is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other small wood projects. [2].
