Boats are notorious as a drain on the wallet; that foreboding bottomless pit………..unless it’s a classic wooden boat.  These are a bit like owning a Stradivarius violin. They are playable instruments, highly prized by aficionados and others who can afford them.  Imagine gleaming decks, plenty of bright work, exotic woods and curves that just don’t stop.  These boats epitomize the glory days of wood.  We consider it a myth that wooden boats are difficult to maintain however a boathouse is a must.  Some wooden boat owners “baby” their investments but vintage boats should be enjoyed. 

Designed and built by a variety of Canadian and US naval architects and builders, dozens upon dozens of fine examples of launches, canoes, racers and runabouts can be seen throughout North America.  Associations and clubs have sprung up across the continent bringing wooden boat enthusiasts together.  Here are a few great sites to set the mood:

http://www.woodenboat.org/ - Wooden Boat Foundation – NW Maritime Centre

http://www.acbs.org/ - Antique and Classic Boat Society

http://www.wcha.org/ - Wooden Canoe Heritage Association

http://www.woodenboatclub.ca/ - Oarlock and Sail Wooden Boat Club

http://www.cwb.org/ - The Centre for Wooden Boats

http://www.cutwater.com/ - Woodies on the Web

http://www.saltsociety.com/ - Sail & Life Training Society

Why continue to use wood in today’s era of technological marvels?  Because it still gives a feeling of warmth and beauty.  Walk on teak decks with your bare feet on a hot summer day or rub your hand on a varnished handrail.  It’s art on water.

There are various species of woods used for marine applications.  Your location on this planet will define which species is readily available.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we have rich resources of lumber for wooden boat construction; for example, Western red cedar is used for kayak and cold-molding construction, yellow cedar (Alaska cypress) for planking and general framing and Sitka spruce is mainly used to build spars and oars because its strength to weight ratio is high.  Douglas fir (Oregon pine) is one of the more commonly used species because of its versatility, availability and cost.  Although these species are most commonly available in the Pacific Northwest, there is a world full of woods that can be used on boats!!

You do not have a traditional wooden boat?  All boats offer an opportunity to use wood.   There are a lot of applications where wood can be used as trim.  The classic woods – teak, genuine mahogany and purpleheart – represent the romantic character of seagoing.  Purpleheart is from Central America, and is the cheapest of the three.  It is incredibly hard and rot resistant, and best used in high-impact areas that require strength; such as, guards, caps and ice sheeting.  It glues easily and takes a finish.  Genuine mahogany is from South America and is an excellent wood for marine applications primarily because of ease of machining and sanding, its strength and rot resistant properties, and its moderate pricing.  Teak, mostly coming from Southeast Asia, is the most expensive but probably the best all purpose wood to use on a boat because of its high oil content.  Take care when using teak, as it will dull your tools. 

The health of these species is essential to the maritime tradition, and each one, to a degree, is in danger.  It is difficult to know precisely how serious the problem is.  So what can one do if concerned about the use of these wood species and the impact using them has on our forests and environment?  One practical and straightforward solution is to use local woods harvested in or near your community.  With today’s finishes, tropical woods no longer outlast local ones.  Strength comes from other materials layered over or under the wood: steel, epoxy, composites and fibreglass.  Today’s materials offer strength and durability superior to any wood (with the surprising exception of Douglas fir).  But, in the Pacific Northwest, most local woods are pale in colour and much of the beauty of tropical woods is their deep, rich hues.  Consider darkening your local woods with water-based aniline dye.  With the right mix of dyes, almost any colour match can be achieved. 

Harvesting for tomorrow requires innovative thinking and approaches today.  Know where your wood comes from.  Certification practices such as Forest Stewardship Council and SmartWood; both endorsed by Rainforest Alliance offers a certification system.  This is the philosophy of “chain of custody – COC” in action in which wood is tracked at every stage in its progress from forest to final sale.

Further information on the merits of these certification programs you can visit these websites:

http://www.fsc.org/en/

http://www.fern.org/

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

The appeal of wood derives from the beauty of its structure and the romantic significance it imparts.  Much of this resonance involves the past, and notions of endurance.  As mariners, we honour the spirit of that endurance by ensuring its future.  Know and respect your woods.