Replacing Hatch boards

[Steve McDonald]

I want to replace my hatch board. I can reproduce them out of plywood, but would prefer a different type of wood. Besides Teak, can any one recommend another type of wood? Anyone know if either red or white oak would work and not swell up?If the cabin top hand rails and all other exterior wood is a silverish grey look, is a good cleaning and repeated applications of teak oil the answer?The only thing I've found so far that I don't like about the boat... is the oarnge formica around the sink.. and that's easy to fix.

 

[Paul Palmer]

Hatch boards

SteveI have plywood hatch boards and plan to replace them with mahogany. I think this is a better choice than oak. I would think any wood other than teak will require a sealer such as varnish. As for the gray teak you can buy a liquid teak brightner that may remove the gray with a good scrubbing. If it is weathered as bad as mine was, with a very rough surface, then it calls for a light sanding to smooth the surface and remove the gray. After several coats of teak oil they look like new again. I painted the ugly orange formica and it came out fine.Good luckPaul Palmer

 

[R.W.Landau]

Mahogany is nice

I redid my companionway boards with mahogany. They are beautiful. They do swell abit so under cut a bit extra on the widths. ( they won't grow with the grain but swell a bit across the grain.)r.w.landau

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

More on Mahogany

My woodsmith girlfriend seconds the Mahogany recommendation adding that if you season the wood correctly you won't have to worry about very much swelling. Cut the pieces for your boards just oversized, then expose them to humidity and heat. In the south, just putting them in the barn might do it, in a northern winter, you can put them under plastic with a tub of water and heat source. Let sit for a month or so, then cut to fit and assemble. They may still swell slightly, but most of the swelling should already have taken place. Then seal the wood (so much for traditional varnish) and finish. The sealing should prevent the wood from shrinking and the pre-swell means nothing will break if the finish is damaged.Your milage may varry. Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Keith]

Hatch Wood

Try Red or White Cypress. This wood will last hundreds of years and will grey exactly like teak if that's what yopu are looking for. It last in the swamps.