Douglas Fir

Why douglas fir for new stringers? Any different opinions?

OMG...I've looked at so many threads and other sites regarding the "why" douglas pine and I suppose it's made me dizzy. I'm having a very hard time finding it. I called a local boat repair co. and he suggested treated? Doesn't sound good to me. Where there's a will, there's a way, I hope.

I'm in Maine and my local lumber yard can get it in all kinds of sizes. Don't see why PA would be any different. Try a local lumber yard, not HD or Lowes. It's not cheap. 1x6 is $3.47/foot.

It's worth looking for someone that has it in stock. If you special order it you are likely to be stuck with what comes in. As mentioned above, look for the largest lumber yard in your area. If they don't have it, they can usually point you in the right direction.

If you don't have any luck at a decent lumber yard, I have used this site a couple times looking for marine mahogany ply.

wood finder

I'll called Phinney Lumber in Gorham, Maine and they can get all types of it, and by the piece. It probably has to go through PA to get to Maine!

Thanks, Riley! The train probably goes right by me here on the river.

Michelle,
I'd keep looking! What he has is "reclaimed" wood. Very trendy now for high end interior trim/paneling/molding/etc. They salvage it from old barns and old industrial buildings then resaw and remill it.

A board foot is a volumetric measurement. It's 144 cu. in. so if you had a piece of wood 12" square by 1" thick, that's a board foot. Using the $7 figure,this means that the a 2x6 will be $7 a running foot!!

The fir you want, is common to home construction (the 2x8 joist in your floor) but in some parts of the country other species are used. Keep calling around to the lumber yards.

OUCH! Even with gas prices you could drive down here for it.

I paid $2.875/bf for 8/4x6x13 and $3.21/bf for 4/4x6(only had grade A in this). The 8/4's were B&C grade but I insisted on picking a bit(they don't always appreciate that).

And since I have the receipt out...
3/4" fir ply-54.95
1/2" fir ply-38.45

This was in march of this year, so some things have changed. Try getting a good measure on length and widths you'll need because you'll pay extra for longer and wider. Also nix the antique and grade A stuff.

Good luck!

Thanks Pete!

Try here.

http://www.stockbuildingsupply.com/

Found the wood and I'll share that story with you in a bit.

Would you recommend 1/2" or 3/4' doug ply for floor? I am not putting the foam back in.

8122pbrainard wrote: Michelle, The 1/2" will be fine. Just make sure you put the support back in behind the dog house (engine cover). That's a spot that seems to get alot of traffic.

or the extra piece in front of the motor box for the ski pylon.

I went back to the woodfinder site. We have a crew working in Elkridge, MD and I asked the job supervisor if he would bring the lumber home to me. This is going to cost me a few lunches and I'll even throw in a few cases of beer. Well worth it....

The company is World of Hardwoods
pricing:
1x6x12= 2.29 lf
2x8x14= 5.93 lf
1x8x6= 3.22 lf
1x4x12= 1.35 lf
3/4" @ 4x8 marine fir ply FSC A/A = 132.22
1/2" @ 4x8 marine fir ply FSC A/A = 102.31

I also inquired about mahogany for decorative purposes....why not?

The ply sounds a little high compared to what you paid.

The mahogany is for the dash plate on the Carver.
Although...I did see someone's boat on the cc site that had wood on the side interior.