: Is there anything about cherry that would make it not a good candidate? Is it
: bad for boats? Is its oxidizing as it ages and changes colors bad for the
: epoxy bond? Too soft? My plan is to tack it on with brads and epoxy and
: then paint it with epoxy. Any advice much welcomed.

I used Cherry for rub rails on a Chape Charles and a Pataxent. It worked fine. I had the Pataxent out over 100 times a year for 4 years in any weather from zero degree paddling in the winter to the Gulf of Mexico in the summer It held up with only ocasional touch up of the dings rub rails are made for.