Re: Is It A Mistake To Use Red Oak In My Boat?
I disagree with some of my fellow boaters here. Oak is not the kiss of death in the marine world, as several ancient hulks are still with us that are made of oak. Ever hear of the USS Constitution? How about the USS Constillation, HMS Victory or the Mary Rose? Enough of my predjudice rantings.
Any of the White Oak family would be a good choice for ship wood. The grain is close knit, absorbing little fresh water. If you salt it down then it will last at least fifty years. As the Mary Rose show it may last five hundred years. You have to keep it salted down or put Cuprinol or its equivalent on the wood though.
On my Phoenix, an oak planked and framed vessel, I have had some rot. After ten years unprotected, I did have to replace a deck beam that was Southern Yellow Pine and fifteen inches of the gunnel that was White Oak.
Fortunately, the guys down in the Gulf taught me about the preservative power of plain old salt. I now have salt boxes aboard her.
As to the specifics of your post. Red Oak has greater width of the pore between the fibers of the wood. Look at the dark portions of the stick of wood and you will understand what I am trying to say. White Oak will have smaller pores. Go to a good wood supplier to see genuine white oak and red oak. Hold them in your hand and from then on you will know the difference.
Red oak can be used as a marine wood if it is kept above the waterline and is saturated constantly with salt or other wood preservative. Keep the pores from absorbing fresh water.
I hope this helps.
A wooden boat constructor.
