: At the end of the day, the kayak is only likely to be in the water for a
: short time and as long as it is stored dry, the wood will be dry for most
: of its life.

: I used danish oil on my recovery frame in the belief (right or wrongly) that
: the wood would soak up the oil and make it less likely to soak up water.
: My recovery frame is in good condition a year down the track.

Like you, I use Danish oil (Watco), or nothing at all, on my stringers. Since they are out of more than in water, they dry quickly and show no water damage. It's easy to see this especially when the skin is clear

A removable skin on a wood frame is another way to insure the wood dries quickly after use. Attached is a pic of a 15+ yr old uncoated pine Baidarka frame that sits out year round with no damage. It's covered in snow most of the winter.

I'm a fresh water paddler and live in a low humidity climate( often under 15%), so drying out is a very quick process. Salt water results may vary.

Regards,

Tom