Ocean Pride - 4

90 year old boat made of wood floating in water...... wow! I brought a solid hardwood gazebo only lasted 3 years! Seems standards have changed.

I cannot answer for this boat - but most fishing vessels are made of the best hardwood, for example Britannia IV of Falmouth is made of solid iroko. Timber that was properly cut and properly seasoned, worked carefully by craftsman, who knew and worked with the grain, all finished to perfection. Not some hack it down and stuff it in a kiln despite it is green bodger outfit.

I made an iroko frett board once, it was that hard it took hours and hours of cutting and sanding etc. but perfect when done.

It is an amazing wood. The Britannia IV of Falmouth only had two painting sessions in her life, once when she was new (1980) and just two years ago - the paint is completely superfluous.

It s certainly the hardest wood I have ever worked.

Bet you fretted over that.

Of chorous. read#

Luthiers of the world unite ... Made a guitar (acoustic) and a ukelele in my time. Bit of fun, eh? Started making a solid - but never finished it - still have the cut block now - fabulous piece of wood, finest straightest hardwood, two inches thick. I had it from Bernard Leach, he cut it special for me ... he gave up in 1974, shows how old the wood is.

Well seasond by now, I made an acoustic about 1970, kept it until about 5yrs ago, then it died, but worked on, repaired etc many since then.