Origins
Some of the most intriguing lumber we have in stock was never used in construction, and yet still considered salvage timbers. These beams are believed to have been loaded onto a Canadian ship in 1921 that wrecked off the Pacific Coast.
In early 2010 as a beach near the wreck eroded, the shipwreck became exposed and the cargo began washing ashore. The Canadian Exporter was carrying 3 million board feet of lumber plus 200 tons of other cargo, heading from Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland, Oregon and then on to Asia, according to a story in the Seattle Times. Some of the timbers that Crossroads and our sister company, Pacific Northwest Timbers now have in inventory were found by locals and hauled ashore with a tow truck, a few others were discovered just beneath the waters’ surface by a local oyster fisherman.
Quality of Timber
These uniquely reclaimed timbers are Douglas Fir, and they are heavy! Each 15”X15”X30’ beam weighs about 4000 lbs! After being preserved in salt water for 90 years they are in incredible condition, as straight as the day they were sawn, with minor checking but free of signs of prior construction use.
Check out our available inventory of Ship Timbers by clicking Here!
Use for Large Dimension Timbers
These beams make impressive show pieces in residential or commercial projects. Check out samples of previous timber projects we have supplied. The aged ship timbers have a beautiful old patina, which has been preferred by the majority of customers who have purchased them, but we are able to provide the following finishes to timbers:
Reclaimed Wood and Boats
Reclaiming shipwrecked cargo is not our only connection to the maritime community. Crossroads has supplied lumber to several boat builders for modern use and historic restorations. Boat builders cannot use new, kiln-dried lumber because the cellular structure of the wood changes during the drying process and cannot withstand constant use in water. With air-dried old growth recycled lumber, the high grain density, stability, and consistency of the reclaimed wood is ideal for boat restorations and construction. Learn more about Crossroads and Pacific Northwest Timbers’ contributions to the Maritime tradition.
