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Temptress: Wood Choice
I'll be starting the Temptress project within the next few weeks. Dan, I noticed you are using Utile for the frames, gussets, and vaneer bulkhead.
I was thinking of using quartersawn Sapele for these components. My local supplier only has Sapele and "Ribbon African Mahogany." Does anyone see any downside for this choice or should I go with the African Mahogany?
I also had a thought of using white oak for the gussets as a contrasting wood. However, I'm unsure if there is a benefit or downside to that at all.
Patrick:
I had also considered sapele only to find out that it is 25% heavier than Mahogany. This would increase the weight to 5000 lbs. This potentiality would changing the performance of Temptress. Where are you located?
Greg Koukoudian
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I'm in Western Montana.
That is a large percentage increase. I can call the supplier tomorrow and see if they have a source on Utile.
What are the downsides of using the Ribbon African Mahogany (I suspect it is common 'African Mahogany')?
Patrick
I am using ribbon cut Mahogany from my research. This is close to quarter sawn as you can get. What you don’t want is flat sawn. I have a good source here in Michigan and I get 1000 bd foot pricing the name of the supplier is LL Johnson in Charlotte MI been in the lumber business for 100 years and ship throughout the US. I have a CNC Routering shop and have spoken to Dan regarding cutting parts for other builders. Please feel free to give me a call my number is (248) 410-9684 I’m usually up all hours so don’t worry about the time difference. My original plan was to build Temptress the original way with plywood and solid wood but I have decided to update to using more solid wood like Dan is using on his build.
Regards,
Greg
Hi All
I don't think you'd see an increase of quite that much. Bear in mind that the 4000lbs rating is the boat all in, including engine and hardware. I'd expect that to equate to roughly 60% timber, some of which is ply, so if you went with entirely Sapele for the solid wood components then I would think you'd see an increase of maybe 300-500lbs at most.
African Mahogany is available here but it's really expensive so I am using Utile in my build, almost identical to Sapele but generally a nicer grade. I am using this for the framing, stem, keel, chines and sheer clamp. For the stringers and topside battens I will probably use something like spruce. Planking will likely be Cedar for internal layers and Utile for finish layers. All in I wouldn't expect to see much of a difference in weight overall.
Sapele and Utile also vary significantly in their density. Some boards I've had are almost twice the weight. Now I've got that worked out I am using the lighter ones for solid framing and the denser ones for veneering visible faces. That's a discovery that I've only just made having now machined a fair bit of this wood.
From what I've seen African mahogany is a bit more available and more reasonably priced in the US so seems like a good option?
Cheers
Dan
Hi Patrick - I used Sapele for the frames, but plan to us African Mahogany for the planing and remainder of the boat. I like the look of the African Mahogany grain better than Sapele.
I don’t have a lot more logic behind my decision.