Down to the nitty-gritty of boat ownership

[Guest]

Having spent ages posting agonised posts about a putative boat purchase, I am delighted to say it looks as if said boat purchase is about to be made - subject to approval of that nice Mr Surveyor chap.

Because we want her up and running for spring sailing, and time will be fairly tight, it's time to start thinking about some issues of practical boat ownership.

Therefore I am making a list of all those little jobs that it will be necessary for me to do if and when she is mine. Not putting the cart before the horse, just making sure we can make the best use of our time when the time is right.

All those people that said 'don't buy a wooden boat' can give a wry smile as I announce that I would want to rub down and re-varnish the wood in and around the well, which includes quite a lot of lockers.

Schooner yacht varnish has been recommended to me as the best thing since sliced bread if I want a really, really shiny boat. Did a forum search, didn't find much. People also seem to like Sikkens - but their website's in Dutch!

Anyway, what do people think? Boat construction is larch, we think, certainly a softwood anyway - on oak. I realise I would be looking at around 10 coats for a satisfactory finish. Boat is on inland waters, not sea-going, so doesn't need protection from salt water or gales.

And a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who replied to my various 'how do you buy a boat' postings in such a friendly way - you really did give me a lot of help, and possibly even the confidence to realise that yes, I really could do it.

The Fruitbat

 

[coliholic]

Sikkens site in Dutch? well I just tried www.sikkens.co.uk on the offchance and guess what? Well you'll have to try it yourself to find out won't you?

I've had some excellent results with Blakes two part polyurethane varnish. It's hard work, takes about 10 coats to get a perfect finish but mine's been on my bathing platform now 3 years and looks as good as the day it was done. Just wipes clean to a good as new shine.

Good luck with the new boat, hope the survey works out for you and say goodbye to all those DIY jobs round the house that you've been meaning to get round to doing. 'Cos they ain't getting done now.

 

[Guest]

Actually, it's interesting that you should say that, 'cos just now my bathroom's got half the wallpaper stripped off... :- )

 

[LadyInBed]

Sod the varnish!

Spend your time before the first season getting to know the engine, electrics and mechanical gubbins, so you know what to do to clear a fuel blockage, bleed the fuel system, how to get at and remove the impeller, which fuse does what, where the cables run, grease the winches, get spare engine belts, filters and impeller etc. etc. etc. And have the tools onboard to do all the above.
Thats getting 'Down to the nitty-gritty of boat ownership'

 

[Guest]

Re: Sod the varnish!

Good advice and thanks... But I'm sure you can understand that after spending all that cash, I damn well want her to be shiny! ;- )

To be fair, I should say that I have sailed the boat before and she's not altogether unfamiliar to me. But I will make sure that I speak to the current owner about how all these things are done; thanks for the reminder and that's another item on the list. Or maybe ten items on the list.

 

[rich]

Re: Sod the varnish!

i agree with nigel b, look up colean havent used it but have seen yacht with decks and bits done looked good cheers rich

 

[claymore]

Sod the Sikkens

My boat was sikkensed when I bought it - 5 years on I just got rid of the last of the bloody stuff. It may look good on garden furniture bit its a depressing thing to do to a boat. When you do come to varnish - after you've taken the good advice in the other postings on this thread, have a think about Epifanes which is a real joy to use. The problem with 2 packs is that if you've a scrap of anything left on the wood when you do it - it will bloom or do something awful in a matter of weeks. Varnishing needs to be done when the days have warmed up and there isn't much humidity. Late May/June is soon enough and try to get a minimum of 6 coats on. Also - try to get one on late summer as this may just stick on through the winter and save you going back to square 1
regards
JS

 

[longjohnsilver]

Work work work

That's all you'll get if you follow the advice of the varnish wallah, stick to the sikkens and it will see you thru with lots more time to enjoy whatever you enjoy doing on the boat.

 

[romany123]

Fruitbat
sikkens english site.Sikkens UK
www.sikkens.co.uk/menu.htm - 4k - Cached - Similar pages

Dave



Dave

 

[claymore]

Don\'t do it! n.m.

*

 

[AndrewB]

Wait for the Surveyor\'s report.

Chances are there will be quite a number of small things to get sorted (which your insurers may insist on) before you can sail. I agree absolutely with the others - in the first season, revarnishing should be a long way down your list of priorities, even though at present I know it looks like an easy place to start.

But it depends on whether you are a sailing sort of person or a work of art sort of person. Quite a few people round our way spend all their time maintaining the boat beautiful - that's their hobby and nothing wrong with it. The boats only go out once a year on ceremonial occasions in very light conditions as nothing is worse for varnish than bright sunlight and salt water.

On the other hand, if sailing's your game, then varnishing will soon become a dreadful chore. You'll be looking for ways to paint or seal as much as possible and reduce the varnished areas to an absolute minimum.

Regarding varnish, any decent brand will do. (Avoid Ronseal though - utter rubbish). 99 per cent of achieving a good finish is in the preparation and sanding between coats. If you haven't done much varnishing before, expect to be disappointed with your first efforts.

Your key choice is between a one or two part polyurethane. One-part is easier to apply and replace later, but doesn't last as long.

 

[AndrewB]

PS ... Congratulations!

Do tell us more about it when the deal's finalised.

 

[Seapepper]

If you have made a list of jobs to do and you have'nt purchased yet, triple the list and the cost, and ask yourself if you still want to make the purchase. I recently bought a wooden yacht, and, despite a good survey, if I had had the advice that I have given you, I would't have touched it with a barge pole.
My theory is that if a boat needs jobs doing to it then it has been neglected. If it has been neglected, then the more jobs that you do on it, the more you will find. Look for a boat that has been loved and cosseted by a very knowledgeable owner (also rich), and if, on your initial viewing you dont find ANYTHING wrotn with it, go for a survey, and if that is OK, buy it.
John

 

[JohnK]

Re: Sod the Sikkens

What didn't you like about the Sikkens? Where was it on your boat?

I've just used it and it went on beautifuly, however, this is the first time I've used it so I have no idea what it'll be like long term.

I especially liked the no sanding between coats.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Re: Sod the Sikkens

Un usual for no sanding between coat..... Only the best finish is reached with between coat sanding, even if it is only of the wet fine panscourer type 3 m pad.


for that ultimate high gloss mega Y look = loads of preparation & tween coats work.

There are NO Short cuts.

David
www.yachtman.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone...(longish post)

... who took the trouble to post in this thread, lots of good advice and thanks, especially to Nigel B, to whom I will make a promise to spend several weekends with my head in the engine compartment, ferreting about with the electrics, up to one armpit in the heads...

A couple of things to say. Firstly I'm buying the boat on the understanding that she's in very good condition indeed, the asking price reflects this, and if the survey says anything else then I shan't be buying her. She's been professionally maintained for many years by boatbuilders who love her like a child (their words). I have climbed all over her very recently, and apart from superficial bits and bobs, I can't spot much up with her.

Therefore they will be doing the heavy-duty maintenance to make sure she's in excellent condition before I sail her away in the spring - that is part of the deal. So, while I can see that 'cosmetic' varnishing is not necessarily at the top of the priority list, that doesn't mean the more serious stuff is not being attended to as well.

Secondly I also don't want to be the sort of boat owner that runs to the yard every time a rope end frays, but to put some work into the boat myself - this job strikes me as something I can do to put some commitment into looking after her and I'm certainly prepared to give a lot of elbow grease to the preparation to get a good result.

Thirdly, the type of boat she is - wooden Broads yacht - really does mean varnished topsides. I would never paint her. To take up Andrew B's point, she's a lovely little sailer and we will enjoy sailing her. But she's also an incredibly beautiful-looking boat (IMHO) and a classic, so I think she deserves a little bit of tender loving care to take away that 'end of season' look.

And lastly (I promise) we are not talking about a sea-going boat. The level of responsibility for a sailor on inland waters, while not something I take at all lightly, is just not the same as that required while at sea. So while she absolutely will be maintained to the highest safety standards necessary, those standards are not as rigorous when we'll never be more than 30 yards from the bank or in more than about 15ft of water.

Thanks again for posting (hope none of this proves too controversial!)

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: Thanks everyone...(longish post)

I wish you joy of her.

 

[Guest]

Re: Thanks everyone...(longish post)

Thanks, Ken