A wooden dream boat

[Chiara’s slave]

I've had my wooden Vertue for 32 years and wouldn't dream of changing boats. They can't be that bad!

Iwonder how many Spirit owners will keep their boat for 32 years.

 

[Zing]

I've had my wooden Vertue for 32 years and wouldn't dream of changing boats. They can't be that bad!

She looks lovely, congratulations.

Any leaks?

How do you waterproof the hull - is it cold moulded and/or laminate covered?

Have you had any rot?

How many hours/yr in varnishing on average?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

She looks lovely, congratulations.

Any leaks?

How do you waterproof the hull - is it cold moulded and/or laminate covered?

Have you had any rot?

How many hours/yr in varnishing on average?

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

 

[Wansworth]

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

Good Lord that looks like a lot of work, beautiful though.

I'm getting the hang of varnishing now! One week in the open and two weeks in a shed normally does the trick, plus a decent winter cover.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I'm getting the hang of varnishing now! One week in the open and two weeks in a shed normally does the trick, plus a decent winter cover.

That sounds like 3 weeks too much unless I had a little man to do it to my satisfaction. Although I appreciate the pleasure if not the pain of pride of ownership when you row away from her.

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

She looks lovely, congratulations.

Any leaks?

How do you waterproof the hull - is it cold moulded and/or laminate covered?

Have you had any rot?

How many hours/yr in varnishing on average?

Thanks! No she doesn't leak so I haven't ever needed an electric bilge pump. In rough weather a little bit of water gets into the bilge but a couple of pumps sorts that out. The hull is made of one log of iroko on oak frames with an elm keel with lead ballast and aluminium bronze keel bolts. Underneath it is just primed with single pack primer and antifouled and the topsides are traditional varnish. I use Epifanes. I have a bit on my blog about varnishing which you can find here. It takes about three weeks to varnish, antifoul, re-step the mast and launch. The trick is to keep on top of it. Gosh, no rot! Good ventilation and salt water keeps that away.

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

That sounds like 3 weeks too much unless I had a little man to do it to my satisfaction. Although I appreciate the pleasure if not the pain of pride of ownership when you row away from her.

Yes, but the three weeks includes servicing the seacocks and the engine, plus antifouling and re-rigging the mast which are all things that may need doing on a GRP boat. So it probably takes two weeks longer, but I agree you need to enjoy the work or it would be a pain.

 

[Zing]

Thanks! No she doesn't leak so I haven't ever needed an electric bilge pump. In rough weather a little bit of water gets into the bilge but a couple of pumps sorts that out. The hull is made of one log of iroko on oak frames with an elm keel with lead ballast and aluminium bronze keel bolts. Underneath it is just primed with single pack primer and antifouled and the topsides are traditional varnish. I use Epifanes. I have a bit on my blog about varnishing which you can find here. It takes about three weeks to varnish, antifoul, re-step the mast and launch. The trick is to keep on top of it. Gosh, no rot! Good ventilation and salt water keeps that away.

Interesting, thanks. A nice blog post too, but that's a lot of work. It does take a lot of time to do it well. I've had cabinetry done by the pros last week, about 3 sq m. 4 hours per coat including masking. I appreciate your dedication.