Every timber species used in wooden boat construction — its properties, where it goes in the hull, and why it matters. From keel to cap rail, this guide covers what our surveyors verify on every visit.
The choice of timber affects durability, weight, maintenance requirements, resale value, and build cost. The following species are those most commonly specified in Turkish yards and international wooden boat construction.
The workhorse of Turkish boatbuilding. Iroko is often called "African teak" — its density, oil content, and rot resistance are comparable to genuine teak at a fraction of the cost. The vast majority of gulets and wooden motor yachts built in Bodrum today use iroko for hull planking and structural framing.
The gold standard of boatbuilding timber. Teak's natural oils make it supremely resistant to moisture, rot, and marine organisms. Self-lubricating and dimensionally stable. Specified for decks, cockpits, and premium interiors where appearance and longevity are paramount. The most expensive structural timber in common use.
The classic boatbuilding hardwood. True Honduras mahogany (now rare) and its African relatives (Khaya, sapele, utile) offer an exceptional combination of straight grain, dimensional stability, and beauty. Mahogany works and finishes superbly — the interior joinery and topsides of choice for prestige builds.
The local Turkish hardwood. Known as "yalancı akasya" in Turkey, robinia is exceptionally hard and rot-resistant — harder than oak, denser than teak. Turkish yards use it for structural members, frames, and keel timbers where strength is paramount. Sustainable, locally sourced, and often overlooked by international buyers.
The premier mast and spar timber. Douglas fir offers an unmatched strength-to-weight ratio, straight grain, and minimal deflection under load. Large, clear sections are available for solid mast blanks; laminated Douglas fir spars are standard on most serious sailing yachts. Also used for cold-moulded boat shells.
The traditional European and American boatbuilding oak. White oak (not red oak) is impermeable to water due to its closed pores — this is critical in marine use. Used for frames, floors, deadwood, and transoms in classic construction. Steam-bends beautifully for curved ribs.
Light, rot-resistant, and ideal for strip-planked hull construction. Cedar's low density makes it the preferred core material in strip-plank and cold-moulded composite hulls. Aromatic and beautiful, it is also used for interior linings. Not a structural timber, but a critical element in modern wood-epoxy boatbuilding.
An African mahogany relative with a distinctive ribbon-stripe figure when quartersawn. Harder and heavier than Khaya mahogany, sapele is valued for its striking appearance in interior joinery, cabin soles, and furniture. Increasingly used as a teak alternative for decorative deck components.
Rare, dense, and extraordinarily beautiful. Yew is used almost exclusively for decorative interior work in premium builds — inlays, decorative panels, small furniture components. Its deep orange-red heartwood with cream sapwood creates striking contrast. A true luxury timber, sourced in small quantities from European estates.
Every structural component of a wooden vessel has specific timber requirements — based on load, moisture exposure, desired finish, and longevity. This is what our surveyors verify at every inspection stage.
At a glance — durability, workability, cost, and primary applications for all nine timbers covered in this guide.
| Timber | Durability | Workability | Cost | Origin | Primary uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroko | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Low | West Africa | Hull planking, Structural frames, Keel members |
| Teak | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | High | Myanmar / plantation | Deck planking, Cockpit sole, Interior joinery |
| Mahogany | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | Honduras / West Africa | Hull planking, Interior joinery, Topsides |
| Acacia / Robinia | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Low | Turkey / Mediterranean | Frames, Keel timber, Structural members |
| Douglas Fir | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | Pacific Northwest, USA | Masts, Booms, Spars |
| White Oak | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | Europe / North America | Bent frames / ribs, Floors, Deadwood |
| Western Red Cedar | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | Pacific Northwest, USA | Strip planking (core), Cold-moulded veneers, Interior lining |
| Sapele | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | West / Central Africa | Interior joinery, Cabin furniture, Facing veneers |
| Yew | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | High | Europe | Decorative inlays, Interior panels, Furniture accents |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Excellent Cost: Low = affordable, High = expensive