copper fastenings

[glennb]

Hi all,

I am interested in buying a copper fastened Teak Vertue, built in Hong Kong in 1956. The fastenings have never been replaced and so I am wondering about service life and methods to detect possible loss of strength in the fastenings due to work hardening. The boat is on San Francisco Bay and has been sailed briskly for many years as a day sailer, but has little off shore time. Unfortunately, here on the west coast of the US, people have very little to no experience with copper fastenings! I am hoping someone who really knows traditional UK sailing craft might be able to comment on what to look for regarding serviceability and when to refasten.

Oh yes, my goal is to take the boat on the single handed transpac to Hawaii summer of '06 and then on to Australia, UK and back to the US thereafter.

thanks much,

Glenn Brooks

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[Mirelle]

I think the answers come in several parts!

First, was she built by Cheoy Lee? They did build quite a few Vertues, more than any other builder, I think, and their particular strengths and weaknesses are well known by the Vertue-owners amongst us, so you should be able to tap a rich vein of information.

If not, as an ex resident of HK let me know the builder and I might be able to offer a few clues.

Next, if she was Cheoy Lee built she would have been built under LR survey, which also makes things nice and simple.

Be warned, however, of some well known issues with HK-built teak boats. Cheoy Lee in particular were far too enthused by marine plywood, and were inclined to build transoms and such with teak over ply - the ply rots. The timber used for bent frames can be "iffy" both in respect of cracks and in respect of rot. And the screw fastenings, where used, should be checked carefully.

Generally, HK yacht builders, of whom there were a good many, over the decades (A King, Wing On Shing, etc) built yachts using British techniques but Asian timbers.

Finally, about the copper fastenings. They should be quite OK. Pure copper lasts very well - much better than the bronze screw fastenings used in many US-built wooden boats. They may work slightly loose if the boat is sailed very hard indeed or is otherwise abused, but it is very unlikely that they will corrode, as copper is "noble" in respect of almost any other metal used in boatbuilding.

Refastening of copper clench nailed hulls is practically unheard-of.

It is possible for an expert boatbuilder to "harden up" copper fastenings if they have gone slack, but this should not be necessary in such a young boat and if not done properly it can be a disaster, so I hesitate to recommend it.

A surveyor will normally draw a handful of sample copper clench nails and roves, inspect and replace with new.

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