Any thoughts on 50 year old iron fastenings?

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NealB

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I've seen a rather lovely 1966, Scottish built motor sailer.

She just oozes character, charm, and comfort.

She has a wonderful, comfy wheelhouse from which to watch the world go by whilst putting the world to rights.

She's typical big, chunky, Scottish style construction: larch planking on sawn oak frames and floors, iron fastened with a full length iron keel.

Decks are iroko on marine ply.

The superstructure is mahogany.

If (a very big IF, that is), we went any further, we would seek out a knowledgeable wooden boat surveyor.

However, in the mean time, would anyone like to share any thoughts on the construction materials?

I've always thought that teak, lead and bronze are amongst the first choices, so I'm rather nervous, in particular, of iron fastenings.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Iron fastenings were common in that type of construction. cheap and usually made on site. You have to remember that boats such as this were not built for a long life, but to stand up to heavy use over a sufficient period of time to justify the investment.
 
Tranona said:
Iron fastenings were common in that type of construction. cheap and usually made on site. You have to remember that boats such as this were not built for a long life, but to stand up to heavy use over a sufficient period of time to justify the investment.
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Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

I don't know if it's relevant, but she was built as a motor sailer: she isn't a conversion of a commercial fishing boat.
 
NealB said:
Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

I don't know if it's relevant, but she was built as a motor sailer: she isn't a conversion of a commercial fishing boat.
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I think it is relevant.

I was about to tell the tale of my mate who spent £70k (thirty years ago!) putting right an old Scottish MFV. Then sold her for buttons. She was then used as a houseboat, rotted away to almost nothing in Gweek before being put on eBay for about £3k. The optimist who bought her lost the engine en route to Hartlepool and she sank on Chichester bar. Now firewood I suspect.

But this is not the same breed; looks lovely.
 
The first photo shows where the fastenings are - much staining around the heads. you perhaps need a specialist wooden boat surveyor to give an opinion. Note there are 2007 and 2012 surveys, both by the same person so worth getting sight of those and if possible speak to him.
 
NealB said:
No, a bit further north: Buckie Jones.
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Years ago I went with a friend of mine to look at a Miller Fifer he was thinking of buying.

Tranona said:
Iron fastenings were common in that type of construction. cheap and usually made on site. You have to remember that boats such as this were not built for a long life, but to stand up to heavy use over a sufficient period of time to justify the investment.
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NealB said:
I don't know if it's relevant, but she was built as a motor sailer: she isn't a conversion of a commercial fishing boat.
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Nick Ryan, the owner of the Crinan Canal, has Scarbh, a yacht in fishing boat style built by one of the fishing boat yards on the Clyde. She had a major refit ending last year which I think cost a metric ton of money. I would have expected a yacht to be built with an eye to a rather longer life than a fishing boat, but even so ...

If she's in Scotland, Ian Nicolson might be the boy to have a look at her for you.
 
He did say he would seek out a knowledgable wooden boat surveyor.

When he does, hopefully the surveyor will spend time examining the fastenings to the oak frames, particularly at the turn of the bilge and below. Iron and damp oak is not a good combination.

Interesting that, if the vendor wanted to disguise nail sickness, he could have painted the boat rather than varnish. Wouldn't have held back for long, but long enough to sell.
 
JumbleDuck said:
Nick Ryan, the owner of the Crinan Canal, has Scarbh, a yacht in fishing boat style built by one of the fishing boat yards on the Clyde. She had a major refit ending last year which I think cost a metric ton of money. I would have expected a yacht to be built with an eye to a rather longer life than a fishing boat, but even so ...
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Now I AM worried .... I've got no idea how much a 'metric ton of money' might be, but I'm pretty sure I haven't got one.
 
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