2
Decay Resistance—a Matter of Degree?
The global timber trade included multitudes of tree species and began just after World War II, and decay resistance matters.
Wood Technology
1
Ship Decks Take a Beating
Wood absorption of salt water leaves deposits of salt crystals between the wood fibers leading to a fuzzy wood surface.
Densified Wood
This densified dawn redwood (Metasequoia) fossil was collected from an Eocene-era site on Axel Heiberg Island in Nunavut, Canada.
3
Oxygen Deficit Strategy for Boats
The primary defense that trees have to thwart invasive insect and pathogenic organisms is the production of an outer covering of bark.
Mast Mechanics: Solid versus Hollow
Richard Jagels weighs the pros and cons of selecting a solid or hollow mast for a wooden boat.
2
Driftwood Scavenging
Reclaiming timbers from ocean wreckage is a centuries-old enterprise practiced by many cultures who lack land-based timber resources.
1
A Deep Dive into Bending Wood
Differing wood species are sources of variation in bending, water and temperature affect particular chemical components of wood, the trick in wood-bending is to find the sweet spot of wood moisture content and temperature to optimize wood plasticity.