1936 HILLYARD RESCUE

[clouty]

I know of a sad neglected 11 ton pre war Hillard - she was a wonderful boat 6 years ago.

Then her owner hauled her out in the Baliarics, and left her there to dry out.

There's a gap of an inch between the deadwoods and the keelson.

The fastenings have not broken, the planks have not sprung.

All the wood is dry, all the seams are wide.


Is a rescue attempt totally foolhardy? I have contacts and street cred in the Marina where she languishes. What bad points would sound the death knell for you knowledgable folk? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[daveyjones]

Have you considered ferro sheathing? During my own research into ferro boats(I'm planning to build one) I have encountered too many barroom pundits who will tell you it's a daft idea, but if you speak to someone with actual experience they invariably recommend it. Using this method you can resurrect any wooden boat in virtually any condition. For a detailed description of the technique see "Ferro-Cement Boats" by Colin Brookes. You can order it from the Hartley and Brookes Website. www.hartley-boats.com.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Two other options perhaps:
1) She could be a good candidate for epoxy encapsulation.
2) If you want to keep her original get sprinklers on her, inside and out, and she should tighten up. Don't do anything with the caulking until the seams have closed up though. The keelson / deadwood gap can be filled with a tarry cement mix (which stays softish) which will ooze out as the deadwoods swell (could take months).

 

[Peterduck]

I think that one should look at this very objectively, for a LOT of TLC [Time, Labour and Cash] will be expended for a minimal return when it comes the time for the boat to get a new custodian. [ie, when you want to sell it.] You would really have to want this boat badly, and no other similar boat be available.
While sheathing with ferro is a way of getting it back on the water, most boat buyers will recognise that this is an expedient which is only applied to otherwise 'dead' boats. Such boats are like El Cid, whose body was propped up his horse to give the appearance of still being alive. The market value will be appropriately affected.
Peter.

 

[daveyjones]

While your comments on the resale value of a ferro-sheathed boat are true, I would make the following points: a) buying a cheap wooden boat and sheathing in ferro would be cheaper than buying a wooden boat in good condition, so the money saved there would balance the resale value of a boat in good condition. There is therefore no overall loss. b) the question of resale value continually crops up when discussing boats, but for some of us, it is not a part of the equation. If you are worried about costs you wouldn't go sailing anyway, and certainly not contemplate owning a boat, but rather do something sensible with your money.

Your comment about the resale value of ferro confirms my experience, that all negative remarks on this material come down to "you can't sell it at a good price". As I have said, it's cheaper in the first place, so no loss. If you look for valid and knowledgeable criticisms based on experience, the worst comment seems to be, that "it was a lot of work and I wouldn't want to do it again". This remark is made by people building in all materials.

If you sheath a wooden boat in ferro, it will certainly outlive you, so if you want a boat for pleasure rather than an investment, you could do worse.

 

[clouty]

Thank you for your wise words, everyone. You may guess that I have an emotional atttachment to the boat, and no, I know of no others like her. When looking at other boats I always compare them unfavorably to this Hillyard.

Sprinklers are a practical, if maybe less effective, alternative to stripping out and sinking.

Epoxy or ferro sheathing is a thought...

Thanks again, got me thinking on new lines.

 

[Talbot]

Would certainly have to be a labour of love, and the time scale should not be underestimated - especially as it would be a tad difficult to just pop down for the day!

 

[Mirelle]

I am no sort of expert. I suggest that "rehydration" should be done very gently, because the stresses that can build up in the wood are large. A traditional approach is to swathe the boat in jute sacking and keep the sacking damp. This assumes that you can locate and buy the stuff in the first place, of course.

Oak shrivels more than most other boatbuilding woods, but it will return to its shape. My first boat had a drying crack in the cutwater about an eigth of an inch wide when I bought her - I never saw it again after the first season.

Recaulking will probably be needed once she has taken up, of course.

 

[halcyon]

Going modern, get some 1" foam sheet, coat the outside of the boat, and face with polythene, run a ring of hose around top ( the one with hole in for garden watering ) and coonect to tap.
Water slowly soaks down through the foam wetting hull, and leave connected to tap, come back in a few months.
Cannot see how you could plaster a 1936 Hillyard though.

Brian

 

[clouty]

[ QUOTE ]
a tad difficult to just pop down for the day!

[/ QUOTE ]

I would move me and my work there. Have sewing machine, will travel! Always being asked to go back.

Love the foam sheet/TPS idea. Pump seawater through the perforated hose? Fresh, in Ibiza, at a premium, and not good for the wood. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[mikebees]

Ferro sheathing, epoxy encapsulation, foam sheeting - what are you going to rename her as? "Michael Jackson" ? Better to let her decay gently into the mud than indulge in such abominations.

 

[daveyjones]

Are you seriously suggesting that a beautiful old yacht should be allowed to decay, rather than apply a simple and inexpensive procedure, not only to repair it, but to give it a new and long lease of life? I would not suggest sheathing a wooden boat that could be repaired
by traditional methods, but if it is too far gone, then better the sheathing than the graveyard. I know a lovely motor launch on the River Medway, a Dunkirk little ship, which was ferro-sheathed some years ago, with great success. Should that piece of maritime history have been allowed to decay?

 

[trouville]

I have a 12ton hillyard and it seems a pity to see another pass away, there was one for years in Elba on a mooring and owned by a disguting german living on a sunk old steel coaster,he collected abandond boats and would neither sell them nor repair them.
With this one i dont see any problems beyond what happens from time to time to wooden boats,Yes there will be a lot of work. Dose the engin still work,whats been stolen from her, no doubt when shes refloated shell need a new mast sails rigging steering cables. As it sounds if shes for free then it would be a propersition providing you do the work your self.
One bad point is that shes in a Spanish yard, i dont trust the Spanish at all and could imagin when all the works done the yard--what ever promis are made even writen one would want 6 years yard charges+ or refuse to move her.
I would refloat her and move her somewhere to do the work.
If it were me, i would as ive done in the past with smaller "wrecks" sail there live aboard my own boat and spend the year doing the work comfortably.
It dose seem ever more that my idea to buy a folkboat is a good one-less costly for place and more choise, plus living aboard a folkboat encourages one to spend less time below or in the cockpit!!!