Obechi is a tough, but soft yellowish open-grained wood. It is extremely easy to work and holds nails well when compared to Balsa. It is also a more preferable wood in all respects when compared to Balsa by most modelers. It is ideal for the keelson and the in-fill pieces of fully planked hulls and is commonly used as base planking on double planked hulls because it is tough and does not splinter easily.