Spreader Material

I would like to know what is the preferred type of wood for building a replacement set of spreaders. I have a 27 foot Cal located in the PNW. The current spreaders have been up for over 15 years but we do not know what they are made out off. I'm thinking some kinda of hickory or walnut but do these woods have sufficient anti rot properties. We will be painting them and plan to repaint every year or so. So it should be a big deal but how much strength is needed verses longevity. If you have any experience on this topic it would be much appreciated.

Kindest Regards
Spreader Man

I've made spreaders from spruce, fir, and mahogany. Spruce is the old standby, I believe, while Douglas Fir may be cheaper for clear, straight grain. I think Hickory and Walnut would be poor choices, as they are both quite heavy and are not particularly rot-resistant. not to mention that Walnut was traditionally a bad-luck wood to have aboard a vessel (so I have heard). you might post this over on the woodenboat forum to see what opinions they have (and they do have some strong opinions on that forum!) :-)

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Douglas Fir is the second-best wood for everything, and it's a distant second compared to Sitka Spruce (not all spruces are created equal). Our local shipwrights have a good supply of Sitka, so you might want to contact my shop, and get info on how to contact them.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss