What I love most about mahogany is how effortlessly sophisticated it looks, regardless of the setting,' she continues. 'Its fine grain and rich tone allow it to take on stains beautifully ...

This story appears in the April 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine. Mahogany is the crown jewel of the Amazon, soaring in magnificent buttressed columns high into the forest canopy.

Lancer Craft imprints mahogany grain onto fiberglass to form the boat’s outer ­laminate. Crisp white seams mimic planked decks. Its deep-gloss woodgrain look mirrors the faux transoms now common on ...