How did shipbuilders use different kinds of oak?
Short answerNaturally shaped live oak was useful for knees and curved framing, while other oak timber better suited straight planking and different structural jobs.
NotesLive oak was especially useful for naturally curved members such as knees and braces, while its form made it less suitable for planking. Common and scientific tree names can obscure this practical selection of timber. Wooden shipbuilding required material suited to each structural role: straight, workable planking needed different timber from naturally curved framing.