[Public-List] steaming teak comment

[vinegar joe]

My luck steaming toe rails has not been good (getting a one inch bend over seven feet was hell, but achieved) and the toe rail on my Alberg 29 as currently patched should really be replaced "one of the days."  Anyway, using black locust for an anchor platform and it does impress me as a good alternative to teak (a little cheaper, looks good, more available and eco-friendly, durable and hard as a rock when dried/seasoned).  Was talking to the fellow I got the wood from and noting my history of difficulty bending wood for toe rails - he suggested that I use black locust that hasn't been dried (green), said it would bend easily, and once dried out on its own, would show very minimal shrinkage over a run of 12 or 13 feet.  fwiw.    Bill in Milwaukee, s/v Vinegar Joe

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