My first boat was a Cosine Wherry. I used oak on the rub rails, and anywhere it was glassed has delaminated. The boat is 6 or 7 years old. I've heard that if you treat it with something (oxalic acid?) it will bond, but I'd use something else. I havent tried cherry, but have seen boats using it. Ash is a good choice.

: What type of wood did you use for the outer stems? I have read that oak
: doesn't epoxy all that well (anyone have experience?). I have some cherry
: left over from some other projects. Anyone ever use that? Ash would
: probably be stronger and easier to bend, but I don't have any of that on
: hand right now.

: I saw in the Hamilton Marine catalog there was brass and stainless steel half
: round rub strips. Aside from the weight, a narrow piece of brass might not
: look too bad (expensive though).