Modern pine is crap. If you can in any way afford mahogany or better yet Spanish Cedar (so much lighter weight than mahog.) do it. Pine is so bastardized nowadays there is no longevity. Maybe it was the lead paint that staved off the rot fungus, IDK.
Casey

Thanks, Casey, that's my feeling too. I've asked for an estimate with mahogany. Maybe I'll ask for Spanish Cedar too!

Enquire about the source of the mahogany and insist on sustainably sourced material certificate. Too much is still being torn out of rain forests, leaving tremendous damage behind.

L.

Thanks, liriodendron. That's a good point. This guy has a good reputation, but it never hurts to ask.