I meant to add this to my previous reply but seem to have neglected it:

Why not scarf the shorter material you have available to you? It works just fine, and is more than strong enough if done properly. I built a 16' kayak from 5' long lumber once; the gunwales had 4 scarfs each, the chines and keelson had 3 each. It was a lot of labor, but it worked out well in the end. If the scarfs fall where you cannot see them from the cockpit, no one will ever know...

: This is not the first time I have asked this question, but I want to revisit
: it- I would like to know if anyone has built a SOF using mahogany for the
: gunwales and keelson. I have access to smaller lengths of fir and pine for
: the ribs and shorter pieces. It's the long ones that are killing me to
: find in good lumber. Where I live mahogany is readily available in very
: clear grain, and long lengths. Besides, imagine how beautiful she would
: look with Mahogany gunwales, even if you don't see much of them!