: 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

Epoxy coated red oak works fine. Have to keep water away from it or the wood turns black.

Bill H.