damp hull needs paint

[Freebee]

My old plywood cruiser is currently ashore and needs repainting before being put back in water 1 April. I visited it today and the hull is obvioulsy too damp to paint in fact the plywood seems water logged in places. I cannot move the hull inside so how can I get the hull to start drying out?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Make up a tent out of a big tarpaulin and make sure there's a good flow of fresh air through it.

 

[AndrewB]

Waterlogged ply?

Not good. Sounds like the ply is delaminating, and internal rot is a distinct possibility. I doubt it would dry out of its own accord before summer.

The defective ply should be replaced. You'll never get a satisfactory paint job otherwise, and it will rot, sooner or later.

 

[bedouin]

That doesn't sound good. I used to have an old plywood cruiser and there 'waterlogged' plywood was a sign of serious problems (as I found out the hard way when the boat sank beneath me). Just painting over it may be a receipe for disaster.

I would recommend getting some professional advice - if the problem is serious then replacing the affected ply may be the only way; but some of these modern 'Wood Hardeners' might help if you catch it early enough.

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Mike,
This is bad news, terms like OLD, PLYWOOD, WATERLOGGED, not good. LongJohns idea of a cover would have been good 4 months ago. Damp then you may have got away with it, looks like a visit to the marine ply shop to me.

They say we spend more time tinkering with boats than using them how true that is especially if you have a wooden one.

PS Don't try to paint damp wood, complete waste of good paint.

Sorry its not better news.
Trevor

 

[Guest]

When you say "waterlogged"? If there is any sign of the ply swelling of softening (prod gently with a large screwdriver) call for expert advice and cheque book. Otherwise, a pack of cheap disposal nappies will soak up a ridiculous amount of moisture to give a tent arrangement a head start.

 

[Guest]

Mike, having spent a number of years building Ply /Glass skinned cats, and then at a later date purchasing one back(19 years after shewas built) there is no way to dry out the ply! permanently. I would strongly reccomend cutting out the panel to the nearest frames/Bearers and replacing.

Once achieved, consider glassing the hull, with a double skin on any chines making sure the edges are feathered. The cat that we purchased back had a 6ftx 4ft panel replaced rebedded and glassed you would find it hard to see where it was, also will last for another 19 years at least. Good Luck

Mor Righ Westerly 30