effect of freshwater on wooden boats?

[graham]

what is the general opinion of keeping a wooden hulled boat on a freshwater mooring?

Obviously some timber is more durable than other types,are there any types of wood that definitely dont like fresh water?

 

[twisterkai]

Mahogany doesn't like fresh/brackish water.

 

[Mirelle]

Elm doesn't like to be between wind and water, but was used for narrowboat bottoms (always wet).

The cheaper sorts of pine ("deal") don't last in fresh.

 

[graham]

i have seen a few cases of mahogany causing problems so would probably try to avoid it.

How about the other common planking timbers such as Pitch pine Iroko Teak etc do any have any noted problems in fresh water? Our mooring is in fresh but we lock out and sail in saltwater which should help a bit.

Im not saying we will be buying a wooden boat but I would like to at least keep our options open.

 

[Mirelle]

People have been doing just that for many years, around the coast, at places like Heybridge Basin, so it cannot be too bad. I kept a pitch pine boat there and had no trouble.

I think that if you avoid mahogany and elm you should be OK.

You won't get much fouling, anyway...

 

[graham]

Thanks to everyone for advice.Im keeping all options open and would not rule out wood glass steel or even ferro if the right boat came along.Though as we will be looking between 25 and 30 ft LOA steel and ferro are less likely.

Your right about fouling being minimal,we just get a green/brown slime around the waterline which comes off with a nylon pot scrubber and elbow grease.This year I had a few tiny barnacles that had got hold during the summer away cruising presumably.

There are a few Car carrying ships coming to Bristol that have been cut in half and had an extra 30 meters welded in the middle.i wonder if this has ever been done with a GRP yacht?

An extra meter in the middle would save me all the hassle of buying and selling (not really a serious option just something for me to ponder on in quiet moments /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif)