Lumber for Stringers

[richardh]

My boat was built with Dim. lumber and it lasted 25 years, so I figured I will just replace it with more dimension lumber incased in fiberglass. Do I need to use kiln dried lumber, or can I just go down and by standard fir. I don't have much experience with lumber. I see that lowes and home depot have green lumber, kiln dried, and premium fir?? I know I don't want the green.. But they don't have kiln dried in anything larger than 2x6. Also it says kiln dried white wood. I'm not sure what that is. Thanks for the advice.

 

[tpenfield]

Not sure if you can get it, but you could look for "Kiln-dried After Treatment" ( KDAT ), which is pressure treated , then dried, so it is suitable to fiberglass right away. Many/most of the boat manufacturers who still use wood have switched to KDAT varieties to avoid rot.

 

[Ned L]

I would not use standard pressure treated. In a 'typical' lumberyard (or big box store0 you cannot buy lumber that has not been kiln dried. That basically limits you to K-D framing lumber. I would look for as close to quarter sawn and clear as you can find. in standard framing lumber.

 

[GWPSR]

I used hem-fir for my larger dimension members, and douglas fir for the smaller. Lowes features a straight, dry, knot-free variety in my local store. Nice stuff.

 

[Woodonglass]

Not saying you can't use Dim. Lumber for Stringers, but fabricating your stringers from Ext. Grade plywood will yield a more structurally sound and dimensionally stable stringer. If you do decide to use Dim. Lumber I'd definitely recommend using kiln dried Straight Grained Doug. Fir.