David Lindow Jr. Posted December 26, 2010 Report Share Posted December 26, 2010 I'm starting a Princess 22 and ready to construct rudder and centerboard. Should I go with Douglas Fir or Cypress. I have cypress available at no cost. The fir I will have to purchase. Can anyone with expertise weigh in on this one? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MW Jones Posted December 27, 2010 Report Share Posted December 27, 2010 I would use the Fir, stronger and more stable. This is assuming you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Pyeatt Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 you may want to read and study the following article. Then consider what wood you might want to use. http://mothboat.tripod.com/CMBA/Building/foils.htm Just for thought consider this. Current harvests of Douglas Fir or Hem/Fir comes from plantation grown stock for the most part. You will find considrable difference between this currently harvested "fir" and old growth fir that is what most of the older articles are referring to. The old growth Fir was a slow growing, tree with very tight annular growth rings. Especially on the north sides of the trees. Some times you could find as many as 60 annular rings to the inch on some of the old groth Fir. Not any more. Now you will find that most of the harvested Fir or Hem/Fir will have between 4 and 10 growth rings per inch. They are raised to achieve maximum growth So they can make studs and peeler logs from them. The rest goes into OSB and particle board production. If you have access to some good clear straight verticle grain fir you will potentially have a good solid piece of wood to work with. Or some older recycled Fir that is from old growth timber. Then consider the article and the fabrication of either the centerboard or rudder. Any plain sawn lumber will warp, twist and cup. The article is showing how to eliminate that tendency. Using Quarter sawn or verticle grain material will make it much more stable to fabricate and a vastly superior finished rudder or centerboard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Jones Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm a little late with this, but that's exactly how Graham suggests making the foils in his plans. Plywood is simply nnot a good choice. Laura and I have had a plywood dagger board fail dramatically (on another design from another designer). It's now done the way the Gougeon's show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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