I am quite new to working with wood but since I bought a boat am really
getting in to it and enjoying it.
I am replacing the rubbing strip (a strip of wood 2" wide that runs down
the side of the boat to protect the hull from bumps and scrapes). The
current strip is made of 2 * 1" strips to allow the curve to be made
without too much effort. Currently the inner and outer strips are both
?. I am told that this is not a good choice for the outer strip since
its compression and subsequent water absorption characteristics are
poor. Basically its easily crushed which damages the paint and then
soaks in water and rots. The inner strip is fine but the outer is soft
and wet in a number of places. ----I am getting to the question---
I have been told by different people to use either Kwila (Moluccan
ironwood or Johnstone River teak) or Iroka for this both of which are
easily available to me in NZ and relatively cheap. I have found some
info on Kwila (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/8271.html) but
cannot get anything on the properties of Iroka. A resent repair to part
of the strip done by a local boat builder was with Iroka but I am sure
he originally said he would use kwila so it could be that he just used
what he had available.
Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or info on iroka to help me
make the choice?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Steve wants to know:

I am getting to the question---
I have been told by different people to use either Kwila (Moluccan
ironwood or Johnstone River teak) or Iroka for this both of which are
easily available to me in NZ and relatively cheap. I have found some
info on Kwila (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/8271.html) but
cannot get anything on the properties of Iroka.

Try Iroko. Though if you're in NZ, it may not be the same, as it is African.

Charlie Self
"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not
hereditary." Thomas Paine

Charlie,

I have seen lots of iroko links but don't know if it is the same thing
and cannot find anything to actually confirm the link.

Thanks.

Charlie Self wrote:

Steve wants to know:


I am getting to the question---
I have been told by different people to use either Kwila (Moluccan
ironwood or Johnstone River teak) or Iroka for this both of which are
easily available to me in NZ and relatively cheap. I have found some
info on Kwila (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/8271.html) but
cannot get anything on the properties of Iroka.


Try Iroko. Though if you're in NZ, it may not be the same, as it is African.

Charlie Self
"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not
hereditary." Thomas Paine

Sorry the existing wood is not ? its Kauri.

Steve wrote:

I am quite new to working with wood but since I bought a boat am really
getting in to it and enjoying it.
I am replacing the rubbing strip (a strip of wood 2" wide that runs down
the side of the boat to protect the hull from bumps and scrapes). The
current strip is made of 2 * 1" strips to allow the curve to be made
without too much effort. Currently the inner and outer strips are both
?. I am told that this is not a good choice for the outer strip since
its compression and subsequent water absorption characteristics are
poor. Basically its easily crushed which damages the paint and then
soaks in water and rots. The inner strip is fine but the outer is soft
and wet in a number of places. ----I am getting to the question---
I have been told by different people to use either Kwila (Moluccan
ironwood or Johnstone River teak) or Iroka for this both of which are
easily available to me in NZ and relatively cheap. I have found some
info on Kwila (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/8271.html) but
cannot get anything on the properties of Iroka. A resent repair to part
of the strip done by a local boat builder was with Iroka but I am sure
he originally said he would use kwila so it could be that he just used
what he had available.
Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or info on iroka to help me
make the choice?

Thanks in advance,

Steve