Gaps in planking

[Captain_Bunsby]

Having started recaulking Cautious Clara 8 months ago we have now reached the bottom planking.
Raking out the oakum and cotton has revealed gaps between the planks of up to 1/8". The options appear to be:
1. Caulk carefully so that the caulking doesn't go right through;
2. Ditto and then add a tingle to the outside (might end up with a fully coppered bottom!);
3. Fit battens along the inside of the seams (tedious, and impossible in some places such a behind the 4" wide stringer);
4. Rout along the seams to remove the plank edges, glue in new plank edges and caulk;
5. Replank.
We want to get the boat back in the water as soon as possible to prevent drying out and so we can go sailing, but we want a solution that will last (?35 years - Helen Tew was still sailing (across the Atlantic!) at 90).
Anyone any thoughts or had any experience of this problem?


<hr width=100% size=1>Captain Bunsby was a character in Dicken's Domby and Son. His ship was called the Cautious Clara.

 

[tillergirl]

I'd go for option 1! With an emphasis on careful. Spliting out the back edg of the plankis important to avoid. Do we understand that she has been out of the water some time?

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[Mirelle]

Me too. Like Tillergirl I am assuming that she has been out for quite a time, and that the planking may well take up a long way when she is wet again.

Nothing to lose by trying this and putting her gently afloat for a while.

I would emphasise the need to caulk lightly, I do know a boat that had to be very extensively re-planked because she was ashore for a long time and was then over-caulked - the pitch pine planking "cupped" alarmingly as the caulking forced the plank edges off the fames. Not a pretty sight.

Otherwise, plan 4 is the one to go for, I should think.



<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Peterduck]

Yes, it sounds as though a bit of over-caulking has been going on with C.C. Either that or some rather casual shaping of the planks in the first place. If the gaps are under the turn of the bilge they might be susceptible to having the cotton pushed right through if the boat come heavily off a wave, which could give the good Cap'n Bunsby some sleepless nights. If, however, they are in a more vertical position they should be fairly safe, I would think. Arrrgh, these ol' boats are a bloody worry, aren't they?
Peter.

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[EASLOOP]

Have you thought about splining? I am about to launch my 40 year old sloop after being ashore for 9 years while I undertook other major works. She is mahogony on oak. I have completely re-caulked using traditional methods but if that fails I may try splining.
Any thoughts on that from anyone?

rgds
John

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[Peterduck]

Splining is intially attractive, but has to be done very judicously if it is not to make things worse. If the planks have shrunk due to drying out, and then the gaps are filled with splines, when the planks are re-immersed and swell again, they will pull away from the frames with sufficient force to snap the rivets or pull screws out of frames. The you're in deep trouble! Cap'n Bunsby's Option Number 4 is a better method; renew the plank edges and caulk carefully.
Peter.

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