Hi Jerry,
I also point out that mahogany is the choice of wood boat builders for below the water line use, on double planked hulls such as those Chris Craft built during the early days through the 1960s. The wood is well suited for wet areas, and since that wood was painted, it was used due to it's strength and water resistive properties and not because of it's beauty.
Now topsides, yes teak is oily and that is why I have promoted the use of acetone wash down prior to the first sealer coat, which DOES WORK.
Cost of wood being what it is, the teak is more expensive, yes, but it is harder and will last like "old ironsides" longer than say, a soft shoe only foredeck on a wood speedboat would.
Either wood is going to be beautiful, and I think mahogany would be stunning. Since the toe rail doesn't really get much abrasion, it could probably be done.
As for the exterior side trim, putting mahogany over top of the gray painted side stripe would be a negative. There are plenty of wood opportunities at the helm to make your commander look like one of the gemstones of the East Coast, and to go further into a "craftsman style boat" would be a distraction from what one would look like if it was faithfully restored to the "WOW" condition.
Thoughts for the day! Hope all is well with you and yours.
Regards,
Paul
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