Using Cherry wood in the Cabin - good idea?

[deeman7777]

To save some cost on replacing 3 cabinet panels, I wonder if using Cherry is a good choice for interior wood. I have a connection who cuts and dries his own cherry and may be able to get solid cherry for much cheaper than a 4'x8' sheet of teak veneer plywood (1/2" for about $150).Any drawbacks to using cherry wood?Thanks!~

 

[Joe McGinty]

Its not the wood, its the 6 coats of varnish

I figure you can use any wood you want, as long as its well encapsulated in varnish. Six coats would not be excessive. And you want to be sure the cherry is well dried, probably in a kiln rather than just stickered and air dried. When you use a classic American hardwood, you are pretty much buying into an annual sanding and revarnishing. I'd like to find someone who has used either honey locust or ordinary locust in a boat. It should be as durable as teak, just not as available. Attached is a pic of my oak interior.

 

[Alchemist]

Beneteaus have cherry interiors

More and more boats are going to cherry interiors. In particular, Beneteau has used cherry for several years. It's quite attractive. In addition, cherry is in good supply while teak isn't. The major thing you will need to worry about is that you are proposing to use solid cherry where almost all other interiors use a veneered plywood. Plywood is more dimensionally sound and less prone to warping and / or checking than solid wood.SteveAlchemist C-320

 

[Jim]

cherry

I like cherry in the cabin. It is full of resin, like most fruit wood,(not as much as teak), and if you oil it often you should be fine. I'm a salty and I dislike all but spar varnish, which takes forever to dry, and six coats sounds like tooo much work to me. I would not use cherry to face weather. Good Luck, Jim.