Agree with the previous posts re. laminated white ash for a sailboat
tiller;
An inexpensive source of the wood is in a solid ash hockey stick, if
you
can find one or more of them.

Just cut off the blade, then rip the stick into
thin strips on your table saw, and lay up a laminated tiller with
waterproof
glue, either in a simple straight length, or in a curved jig according
to the
plans you have on hand.

The manufacturing process has apparently changed over the years, and
many
of the sticks are now made with a combination of lesser hardwoods, with
only
the blade composed of white ash. You'll have to have a good eye for
finding the
Real McCoy in newly-produced versions, or look for some vintage hockey
sticks
at a yard sale, secondhand thrift store, etc.
Best regards,
Sandpebble
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How to buy a field hockey stick
From www.ehow.com
1.Remember that there are no hockey sticks for left-handed folks. All
sticks have a toe with a rounded edge that faces the right and a flat,
hitting surface that faces the left. To be able to hit the other
direction with the flat face you have to turn the stick 180 degrees.

2.Look into sticks made from different materials. The best are made
from ash or mulberry wood.

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White Ash,
from Woodzone.com
Botanical Name:
Fraxinus, americana
Other Names:
American White Ash, Canadian White Ash
Natural Characteristics:Strong and very
shock-resistant
Color:
Light brown heartwood with white sapwoood
Uses:
Baseball bats, pool cues, canoe paddles, tool
handles,
veneer, boat building.
Comments:
White ash has been called the all-American
leisure wood
because of the large number of uses it has in
sports and
recreation equipment.