Wooden boats are as popular as ever, from home-built kayaks and classic dinghies to restored motor launches and custom yachts. But a boat is a hostile place for wood: constant moisture, salt, sun, flexing and impact. Choosing the best wood for boat building means picking the right species for each part, because the ideal plank is not the ideal frame, and the ideal deck is not the ideal cabin panel.
In this guide we go through each part of a wooden boat and suggest the woods that work best, with a focus on African species we supply from Central Africa at Global Timber Trade Hub. We also cover drying, fastenings, sealing and legal sourcing.
In short
- Choose wood by boat part: hull, frames, keel, deck, trim and interior.
- Okoume BS 1088 plywood is the top choice for light plywood hulls and decks.
- Afrormosia and iroko are excellent for frames, keels and trim.
- African mahogany and sapele suit planking, brightwork and interiors.
- Use bronze or stainless fastenings and seal end grain carefully.
- CITES rules apply to some boat timbers, such as afrormosia and African mahogany.
What a boat asks from its timber
- Durability: resistance to decay in damp, often poorly ventilated spaces.
- Strength for weight: strong parts that do not make the boat heavy.
- Stability: low movement between wet and dry, hot and cold.
- Bending ability: for frames and planks that follow the hull’s curves.
- Glue and coating adhesion: modern boats rely on epoxy and varnish.
- Good looks for brightwork and interiors.
Best woods by boat part
| Boat part | Recommended woods | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood hulls and decks | Okoume BS 1088 plywood | Light, strong, glues well with epoxy |
| Carvel and clinker planking | African mahogany, sapele, iroko | Durable, bends well, attractive |
| Frames and floors | Afrormosia, iroko | Strong, durable, holds fastenings |
| Keel, stem and hog | Afrormosia, iroko, azobe | Strength, durability, impact resistance |
| Rubbing strakes and gunwales | Iroko, afrormosia, padouk | Hard, durable, looks good |
| Decks (solid) | Teak or alternatives such as afrormosia | Stable, durable, grippy |
| Brightwork and trim | African mahogany, sapele, makore | Beautiful under varnish |
| Interior joinery | Sapele, sipo, aniegre, okoume ply | Stable, fine finish, light |
Okoume plywood: the foundation of modern wooden boats
Okoume BS 1088 marine plywood is the standard for stitch-and-glue boats, kayaks, canoes, dinghies and many small powerboats. It is light, strong, uniform and bonds very well with epoxy. Encapsulated in epoxy and fibreglass, it makes durable, light hulls. Read our full guide to Okoume marine plywood.
Afrormosia: frames, keels and teak-like trim
Afrormosia is very durable, strong and stable, with a teak-like colour. It is excellent for frames, keels, deck beams, rubbing strakes and cockpit soles, and it glues better than teak. It is CITES listed. See afrormosia vs teak.
Iroko: durable and economical
Iroko is very durable and widely used for frames, keels, planking, rubbing strakes and trim. It is a cost-effective teak alternative for many parts. See iroko vs teak.
African mahogany: classic planking and brightwork
African mahogany has a long history in boat planking, transoms and varnished brightwork. It bends well, takes varnish beautifully and is moderately durable. It is CITES listed since 2023.
Sapele: strong and attractive
Sapele is harder than African mahogany and used for planking, trim and interior joinery. It is also common as a face veneer on marine plywood.
Azobe: for the toughest parts
Azobe is very heavy and hard. It is used for keel shoes, rubbing strips on working boats, fender systems and parts that face heavy abrasion.
Makore and aniegre: luxury interiors
Makore gives a fine, warm, often figured finish for yacht interiors. Aniegre provides a pale, elegant alternative. Both are used as solid wood and veneer.
Teak and teak alternatives for decks
Laid teak decks remain the classic, but teak is expensive and legal sourcing can be difficult. Afrormosia and iroko are the most common African alternatives for solid decks and cockpit soles. For lighter boats, many builders use okoume plywood decks sheathed in epoxy and fibreglass, sometimes with a thin wood veneer on top.
Moisture content and drying
For epoxy construction, use wood dried to about 10–14% moisture content; epoxy bonds poorly to wet wood. For traditional carvel planking, slightly higher moisture is often preferred so planks swell to close seams. Let timber acclimatise in your boat shed before use.
Fastenings
Use silicon bronze, copper or high-grade stainless steel fastenings. Never use plain or galvanised steel below the waterline; it corrodes quickly and stains tannin-rich woods. Pre-drill hardwoods and set fastenings in bedding compound or epoxy.
Sealing and coatings
- encapsulate plywood and non-durable parts in epoxy;
- seal every cut edge and screw hole;
- protect epoxy with UV-resistant varnish or paint;
- use marine varnish with UV filters on brightwork, with several thin coats;
- leave teak and teak alternatives on decks unfinished or oiled for grip.
Ventilation
Rot in boats usually starts where fresh water collects and air does not move: under decks, in bilges and behind lockers. Design for drainage and ventilation, use durable species in hidden places, and keep the boat covered when not in use.
Legality and CITES
Several boat timbers are CITES listed, including afrormosia, African mahogany and padouk. Exports need CITES permits, and some countries also require import permits. We arrange export permits for listed species and send legality and chain-of-custody documents with every shipment. Read our guide to CITES timber species.
Prices
Indicative starting prices per m³, FOB Central Africa: okoume lumber about $520, azobe about $650, sapele about $850, iroko about $950, African mahogany about $950, makore about $1,000, afrormosia about $1,500. Plywood is quoted per sheet. See our African hardwood prices guide.
Maintenance of a wooden boat
Wooden boats last a lifetime when they are looked after. Keep the boat covered or under shelter when not in use, so fresh rainwater cannot collect inside. Pump bilges and open hatches regularly for ventilation. Inspect varnish and paint each season and touch up any damage before water gets in. Check fastenings, especially below the waterline, and replace any that show corrosion. On solid decks, scrub with salt water rather than harsh cleaners, which strip natural oils and raise the grain.
Lead times for boat timber
Okoume plywood and standard sawn iroko, sapele and azobe can usually be prepared within a few weeks. Selected boat-building grades, long clear planks and matched brightwork stock take longer to select and dry. For afrormosia and African mahogany, add one to four weeks for CITES export permits, plus import permits if your country requires them. For a planned build, contact us early and we will reserve stock.
Who buys boat timber from us?
Our boat timber customers include boat yards, restoration specialists, kit boat suppliers, yacht interior workshops and individual builders. Yards usually order mixed containers of plywood and lumber; individuals often order a smaller consignment of plywood sheets with a few planks of trim wood.
Common mistakes
- Using exterior plywood instead of marine: core gaps trap water.
- Steel fastenings: they corrode and stain.
- Unsealed edges: water wicks in through end grain.
- Wet wood under epoxy: the bond fails.
- Poor ventilation: rot starts in closed, damp spaces.
Traditional vs modern wooden boat building
Traditional carvel and clinker boats are built from solid planks fastened to steam-bent or sawn frames. They rely on the wood swelling to keep seams tight, so species choice, moisture content and fastenings matter greatly. Modern wooden boats are often built with plywood, strip planking or cold-moulded veneers, all bonded and sealed with epoxy. Here the wood acts as a structural core, and light, stable, glue-friendly species such as okoume are preferred. Many builders combine both approaches: a modern epoxy hull with traditional solid wood trim, rubbing strakes and interiors.
Restoration projects
Restoring a classic wooden boat often means matching the original species. Old launches and dinghies were frequently planked in mahogany, framed in oak or iroko and trimmed in teak. Where the original species is now restricted or hard to find, African mahogany, afrormosia and iroko are common, accepted substitutes. Tell us the boat type, the parts you need to replace and the original species if known, and we will suggest the closest match in look and performance.
Weight and boat performance
Every kilogram counts on small boats. Using a heavy hardwood where a lighter one would do can spoil performance and stability. Use okoume plywood and light species for hull panels and interiors, durable mid-weight species such as iroko and afrormosia for frames and trim, and keep the heaviest woods, such as azobe, for keel shoes and wear strips. Our Okoume marine plywood guide includes a sheet weight table.
How to order boat building timber
- List the parts and the species you want, or ask for our advice.
- Give sizes, grades and moisture content.
- Add plywood sheet sizes and thicknesses if needed.
- Give destination and timing, and whether you need import permits.
Boat yards often order a mixed container with plywood, hardwood lumber and veneer. Our export process page explains how it works.
Sources
- Boat building on Wikipedia
- Marine plywood on Wikipedia
- CIRAD Tropix for technical data.
Related guides
- Okoume marine plywood
- Afrormosia vs teak
- Iroko vs teak
- Best wood for marine construction
- Plywood and lightweight timber
Frequently asked questions about the best wood for boat building
What is the best plywood for boat building?
Okoume BS 1088 marine plywood is the most popular choice for light boats.
What wood is best for boat frames?
Afrormosia and iroko are excellent: strong, durable and good at holding fastenings.
Is African mahogany good for boats?
Yes, especially for planking, transoms and varnished brightwork. It needs good sealing and maintenance.
What can replace teak on a boat?
Afrormosia and iroko are the most common African teak alternatives.
Get a quote for boat building timber
Send your parts list, species and sizes through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, lead time and the documents for your shipment.