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Author Topic:   Wood for Currituck console

mack posted 10-25-2003 08:40 PM ET (US)
The main top surface, and two side pieces of my console are getting rotten, and I thought I would make new ones this winter. Are these solid mahogany, or mahogany plywood, or some other wood? Other than filling with plastic wood and refinishing, what other wood will work, and is good mahogony readily available for rebuilding this console? I have not researched this project fully yet, and I am sure this site has a lot of good info on this subject.
Experience and suggestions appreciated, and duly compensated!!
Mack in SC
jimh posted 10-26-2003 10:09 AM ET (US)
My experience is that the wood used in the interior furnishings of classic Boston Whaler boats is generally solid mahogany.
Mahogany is the traditional choice for marine construction.
Mahogany trees are still grown, harvested, and sawn for sale by commercial lumber suppliers.
Proper mahogany lumber is available for restoration of classic Boston Whaler boat components, although it may not be available at your local Home Depot and may have to be ordered through a specialty supplier.
geohjr posted 10-26-2003 01:09 PM ET (US)
What year is your Currituck? I once painstankenly created an 80's Sport interior by measuring and photographing nearby rental Whalers. The Sport evolved from the Currituck and was basically the same. The top of console and the face of the console were Mahogany Marine plywood. The sides of the console were solid mahogany (except the center support). The front edges of the plywood were covered with strips of soild mahogany which were screwed on and screw hole mahogany plugs used. Marine plywood (very expensive) has no voids and uses waterproof glue. The pieces that run along the sides of the hull are solid mahogany. The seats are very wide and it worked out well to have two solid pieces (professionally)joined with waterproof glue. I've had solid pieces crack while the joined sections haven't budged. If they use sections cut from the ame length you can hardly tell it's joined. I still have about 25 photos of the 80's version if you want me to check any details out for you. Within fifty miles of me, there was only one place that carried an extensive assortment of solid mahogany. They basically were a lumberyard that did custom millwork, you just have to call around. I think I ordered the plywood from Massachussetts somewhere. I think it was available in 4x4 sheets. This job will make a woodworker out of you. Good luck.
SpeedBump posted 11-04-2003 07:39 PM ET (US)
Mack - I see you are from SC. Here in the NE, Pennsylvania area, there are two good sources for Mahogany, M.L. Condon in New York, sells lots of marine grade lumber and plywood reasonably priced another is Thompson Mahogany in Philadelphia, they are a large importer and national distributor of many types/grades of Mahogany. you can find both on the internet, I thinks they both will ship.
However, a good grade of Honduran Mahogany should be available at any large lumber yard in your state. you can also check out a good woodworking store such as WoodCraft Supply, but they will be terribly expensive for a large project using solid lumber. Whaler specs Philippine mahogany in a number of their plans but if you are looking for strikingly attractive mahogany stay away from Philippine it tends to be a bland brown wood and isn't really mahogany it just has similar properties. Go with a genuine grade like Honduran the difference is worth the price.
Another option is kalantis or mexican cedar, it resembles mahogany in appearance but is much lighter in weight. Tools well and finishes nicely with varnish. It darkens to a deep rich redish brown color when exposed to sunlight. only drawback is it is a soft wood being a cedar and therefore dents/mars more easily than a genuine mahogany.
geohjr posted 11-04-2003 09:53 PM ET (US)
The M.L.Condon lead is a good one, searching around alot of boat building kits etc. reference them. Here's good link for finding Marine Plywood; find one in your backyard, shipping 4x8 sheets gets expensive. Sorry bout the kayak thing.
http://www.woodenkayak.com/list_of_marine_plywood_suppliers.htm
WMBS posted 11-05-2003 09:20 AM ET (US)
If you can't find what you are looking for locally, Carlton McClendon's Rare Woods in Atlanta has a variety of mahogany and other plywoods. Their phone is 404-876-1144.
good luck, Mike
whalernut posted 11-05-2003 08:00 PM ET (US)
I have a 1973 Currituck, and sold the wood out of it not to long ago, and have bought a 17` Standard Interior in Fiberglass and starboard, I went with the Haze Grey, will put it in in the Spring here in W.PA. Jack.
lhg posted 11-05-2003 09:43 PM ET (US)
Jack be wary of that starboard Alert interior. Every single one I have seen had warped side hold-downs. It is also a bear to clean in any color except black. Starboard was basically designed to be used in small pieces, such as cabinet doors, rod racks, cooler cleats, and for misc trim. When it's cut in long lengths and exposed to the elements, it warps like crazy if not continually supported.
whalernut posted 11-06-2003 06:12 PM ET (US)
Oh boy Larry, now you have me worried, thank God I have a Mooreing Cover, but still, it does get hot under them also. Well, time will tell, and I hope I luck out, or I waisted a good bit of change. i keep you updated as I can`t install it for a few months, no garage :-( Thanks-Jack.
Brad Augustine posted 11-20-2005 03:29 PM ET (US)
I have a 1973 Currituck that needs a new Mahogany Interior. I have considered changing it out to a Fiberglass Montauk interior but I am worried about securing it to the floor. Any thoughts here?
Does anyone have suggestions where I might find a fiberglass interior or a Mahogany interior "turnkey". I don't have the time to do it myself abd need to get the boat ready for the summer now. Thanks

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Author	Topic: Wood for Currituck console
mack	posted 10-25-2003 08:40 PM ET (US) The main top surface, and two side pieces of my console are getting rotten, and I thought I would make new ones this winter. Are these solid mahogany, or mahogany plywood, or some other wood? Other than filling with plastic wood and refinishing, what other wood will work, and is good mahogony readily available for rebuilding this console? I have not researched this project fully yet, and I am sure this site has a lot of good info on this subject. Experience and suggestions appreciated, and duly compensated!! Mack in SC
jimh	posted 10-26-2003 10:09 AM ET (US) My experience is that the wood used in the interior furnishings of classic Boston Whaler boats is generally solid mahogany. Mahogany is the traditional choice for marine construction. Mahogany trees are still grown, harvested, and sawn for sale by commercial lumber suppliers. Proper mahogany lumber is available for restoration of classic Boston Whaler boat components, although it may not be available at your local Home Depot and may have to be ordered through a specialty supplier.
geohjr	posted 10-26-2003 01:09 PM ET (US) What year is your Currituck? I once painstankenly created an 80's Sport interior by measuring and photographing nearby rental Whalers. The Sport evolved from the Currituck and was basically the same. The top of console and the face of the console were Mahogany Marine plywood. The sides of the console were solid mahogany (except the center support). The front edges of the plywood were covered with strips of soild mahogany which were screwed on and screw hole mahogany plugs used. Marine plywood (very expensive) has no voids and uses waterproof glue. The pieces that run along the sides of the hull are solid mahogany. The seats are very wide and it worked out well to have two solid pieces (professionally)joined with waterproof glue. I've had solid pieces crack while the joined sections haven't budged. If they use sections cut from the ame length you can hardly tell it's joined. I still have about 25 photos of the 80's version if you want me to check any details out for you. Within fifty miles of me, there was only one place that carried an extensive assortment of solid mahogany. They basically were a lumberyard that did custom millwork, you just have to call around. I think I ordered the plywood from Massachussetts somewhere. I think it was available in 4x4 sheets. This job will make a woodworker out of you. Good luck.
SpeedBump	posted 11-04-2003 07:39 PM ET (US) Mack - I see you are from SC. Here in the NE, Pennsylvania area, there are two good sources for Mahogany, M.L. Condon in New York, sells lots of marine grade lumber and plywood reasonably priced another is Thompson Mahogany in Philadelphia, they are a large importer and national distributor of many types/grades of Mahogany. you can find both on the internet, I thinks they both will ship. However, a good grade of Honduran Mahogany should be available at any large lumber yard in your state. you can also check out a good woodworking store such as WoodCraft Supply, but they will be terribly expensive for a large project using solid lumber. Whaler specs Philippine mahogany in a number of their plans but if you are looking for strikingly attractive mahogany stay away from Philippine it tends to be a bland brown wood and isn't really mahogany it just has similar properties. Go with a genuine grade like Honduran the difference is worth the price. Another option is kalantis or mexican cedar, it resembles mahogany in appearance but is much lighter in weight. Tools well and finishes nicely with varnish. It darkens to a deep rich redish brown color when exposed to sunlight. only drawback is it is a soft wood being a cedar and therefore dents/mars more easily than a genuine mahogany.
geohjr	posted 11-04-2003 09:53 PM ET (US) The M.L.Condon lead is a good one, searching around alot of boat building kits etc. reference them. Here's good link for finding Marine Plywood; find one in your backyard, shipping 4x8 sheets gets expensive. Sorry bout the kayak thing. http://www.woodenkayak.com/list_of_marine_plywood_suppliers.htm
WMBS	posted 11-05-2003 09:20 AM ET (US) If you can't find what you are looking for locally, Carlton McClendon's Rare Woods in Atlanta has a variety of mahogany and other plywoods. Their phone is 404-876-1144. good luck, Mike
whalernut	posted 11-05-2003 08:00 PM ET (US) I have a 1973 Currituck, and sold the wood out of it not to long ago, and have bought a 17` Standard Interior in Fiberglass and starboard, I went with the Haze Grey, will put it in in the Spring here in W.PA. Jack.
lhg	posted 11-05-2003 09:43 PM ET (US) Jack be wary of that starboard Alert interior. Every single one I have seen had warped side hold-downs. It is also a bear to clean in any color except black. Starboard was basically designed to be used in small pieces, such as cabinet doors, rod racks, cooler cleats, and for misc trim. When it's cut in long lengths and exposed to the elements, it warps like crazy if not continually supported.
whalernut	posted 11-06-2003 06:12 PM ET (US) Oh boy Larry, now you have me worried, thank God I have a Mooreing Cover, but still, it does get hot under them also. Well, time will tell, and I hope I luck out, or I waisted a good bit of change. i keep you updated as I can`t install it for a few months, no garage :-( Thanks-Jack.
Brad Augustine	posted 11-20-2005 03:29 PM ET (US) I have a 1973 Currituck that needs a new Mahogany Interior. I have considered changing it out to a Fiberglass Montauk interior but I am worried about securing it to the floor. Any thoughts here? Does anyone have suggestions where I might find a fiberglass interior or a Mahogany interior "turnkey". I don't have the time to do it myself abd need to get the boat ready for the summer now. Thanks