Mahogany might be nicest.

I'd avoid red oak. I used it once and won't use it on a boat again. It rots much more easily than white oak.

Have your friend in Minneapolis check his Yellow Pages phone book for hardwood lumber dealers in the Minneapolis area. Call, e-mail, or fax them to see if they have air-dried white oak for steam bending.

Check with USPS to see if you need to put your boards in a box. You might be able to just slap postage and an address label on each one.

There are a lot of white ( and red). oak trees growing in Minnesota. It shouldn't be difficult to find good lumber.

PGJ