Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

I have just received my next project, it is a 1930 Chris-Craft 20ft triple, as everyone knows they were built out of Philippine Mahogany. The first thing i have to do is replace the bottom.What would the most suitable timber to replace the bottom with here in the North as i cant get any Philippine Mahogany around here. Glenn.

Glenn,
Meranti is the same timber, forest Meranti [tight Grain] Is protected. Plantation Meranti is[ open grain] which they use in door frames today. Try for some old Meranti at a secondhand yard
Doc.

A timber that is similar in colour and grain to Mahogany is Amoora. It is a bit more dark red than the Philippine mahogany.it is also probably a more dense timber than the Mahogany. It is available from both Aust Furniture timber and Mathews in Melbourne. If you have a look at the Aust furniture timber website there is plenty of info on the timber. I would think that there would be some available in Brisbane. I'd have a search on the net

If you drop me an email to psneddon@bigpond.net.au I have got an off cut that I can put in an envelope and send to you. At least that way you will have a better idea if it is possibly suitable for your boat.

Trend timbers in Sydney has a very informative download on all sorts of timber and their suitability for boatbuilding etc.

I have downloaded it and will do a summary in another link on the casita BB.

Cheers Peter Sneddon

Thanks, Peter and Doc, you both have being very helpfull . I now will be able to look at the timber yards with a few options. The planks on the bottom are up to 260mm wide x 10mm thick and up to 6metres long. Glenn.

Here is a couple of photos.

What a great looking boat!!

Did you import that or did you buy it over here. I looked at importing one but with customs it just got to hard. That is the model i wanted but a bit longer. but you still have a cool boat
Paul

Yes it is imported,and customs here made it very hard ,but now here it is and all that is forgotten. Glenn.