[Public-List] What wood....

[Greg Dawson via Public-List]

Hi Guys

Alternatives to teak? The woodwork on our boat is in poor shape, the hatch covers are falling to pieces and the toe rail has been cut in a couple of places. The teak trim on the stern is snapped in two and the boards either side of the cockpit are badly weathered. To add to this the mild steel bolts holding our toe rail down are so rusted that they are snapping when you try to adjust them. 

I'm looking to replace the toe rail with an aluminum system once I find something appropriate, does anyone have any ideas? Also, replacement teak for the hatches etc is simply out of our price range (lots of other stuff to buy with that money) and I am looking at alternatives, any ideas? Is there any reason for instance that I can't use ash or cherry provided that I accept the additional work of varnishing each season? 

Finally, on the subject of mast beams, is there an engineered drawing kicking around that I could work off to produce my new beam. Currently it has the Frankenstein bolts and aluminum plates. Nothing is quite lining up as it should and I am wary of using the damaged beam as a template. I have to renew the bulkheads as they are rotten around the chain plates so I might as well do the beam to at the same time. Any ideas?

Thanks 

Greg.