Starcraft Seafarer seats?

[reelfishin]

I picked up a 1972 Starcraft Seafarer 14' boat yesterday for almost nothing. Other than the fact that all three bench seats are broken, the rest of the boat is super clean.

The original seats are 5/4" x 12" teak or mahogany planks with aluminum boxes attached below for strength.

Might anyone know where to look to find teak planks like this?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Starcraft Seafarer seats?

http://www.exotic-wood.com/teak.htm

I've been contemplating adding some teak on my gunwales...pretty pricey stuff. I did get a teak ski locker for $30 on ebay. Can't find boards cheap though.

Good luck

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Starcraft Seafarer seats?

Good link but they don't list anything in the thickness I need, nor the width.
The seat planks are 1" thick, x 12.5" x 36", 56" and 58" long.
I called several cabinet maker supplies and one boat builder supply here and nothing so far. One told me I had to be mis-measuring what I had, the other told me to use plywood with a veneer. I want the original materials. What gets me is that they had to build thousands of these boats over the years, I'd guess that they built this boat with these wood seats for at least 20 years, maybe longer. Both the Seafarer and Sea Scamp, as well as the early Mariner models used wood seats. I'd settle for mahogany or any other durable hardwood.

I just can't believe that they built such a run of the mill row boat with such exotic wood as it's seat planks.

Two of the original seats are broken, one is intact but so dried out and brittle that I'm afraid to put weight on it. The first one to break gave out nearly as soon as I got the boat, the second when a buddy kneeled on it in the middle.
I'd go with any hardwood that will withstand the environment at hand, but want to preserve the original look.