I NEED EXPERT ADVICE on wooden sailing boat!

[udo]

How depressing to read such a narrow and "purist" viewpoint on owning a wooden boat - as if nothing has been learned and no new materials and techniques have any value. Boatyards are full of decaying boats (or used to be) for two reasons.
.

Hi Tranona,

First of all, I have not given up on wooden boats at all and I am still very interested in using modern maintenance solutions like Polyurethane varnish (Coelan) on wooden boats.

I set aside any kind of emotional judgements and try to understand the opinions of some of the experts here on this forum.

The MAIN issue is here the marriage between 2 type's of hulls: Solid Mahogany planks on oak rib's, carvel build and on top of that the Plastic / epoxy sheeting which is having far less flexibility.

Described here is, by some experts, that it could work, but only done in a proper way and if not done in a proper way, it could lead to major disasters and the problem is to find out if a boat is having the potential to end up in a disaster.

The situation here is: The Plastic hull is leaking and that's already a bad sign.
Above the waterline problems as well.

Therefore we must inspect the boat out of the water and this will lead to me spending in total between SEK 4000 and SEK 5000 (SEK 10 - EURO 1 roughly) not knowing that I will get the boat!

It's not important that the purchase price of this boat is an absolute bargain.
What is more important is to get an idea of future maintenance and this boat is having the potential of becoming a money pit, which will not be the case for any wooden boat. This boat is simple higher on the scale of anticipated risk.

I have to work with a limited budget, therefore I can't afford the risk of this boat.

Someone else who could afford taking the risk spending lot's of time and money, could maybe take it on. Very likely (according the my surveyor) that the whole hull needs to be plined (above the waterline) and that is already a very big job, which is more than regular maintenance.


That's all,

Best regards,

Udo

 

[Tranona]

That's OK udo. I was not having a go at you, but at the rather sanctimonious dismissal of modern techniques in relation to old wooden boats.

As I suggested many of the problems of old wooden boats are the consequence of their materials and method of construction. It does not make sense to me to repair them using the same techniques when there are often superior ways to do it. Boats are living structures designed for sailing for pleasure. Anything that helps keep them like that seems good to me.

Best of luck and I hope you find a boat that suits you.

 

[udo]

Hello everybody,


I have not given up in the hunt for wooden classics,
Inspected another one.
When interested, have a look in the new thread:
Posted a new image gallery.

here is the link to the new thread:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2584173#post2584173

best regards,

Udo

 

[andygc]

That's OK udo. I was not having a go at you, but at the rather sanctimonious dismissal of modern techniques in relation to old wooden boats.

I can't help but feel that you are being unfair in that comment. There are very good ways of using modern materials to extend the life of carvel built boats without relying on solely traditional methods. I mentioned one previously - refastening, splining using modern glues, and all-over epoxy coating. The all-over bit is important, but the refastening is an essential first step. On the other hand, modern materials can destroy carvel hulls quite quickly - for example, caulking a hull that has been dry for two or three years with Sikaflex will strain the fastenings and may fracture bent frames when the wood soaks up.

It is nothing to do with moral superiority ("being sanctimonious"), but a question of recognising that, with traditionally-constructed boats, you either repair them the old way, or you use modern methods properly.

 

[udo]

"at the rather sanctimonious dismissal of modern techniques in relation to old wooden boats."

Did not came from me but other forum users,

Udo

 

[Tranona]

It is nothing to do with moral superiority ("being sanctimonious"), but a question of recognising that, with traditionally-constructed boats, you either repair them the old way, or you use modern methods properly.

Could not agree more. The sheathing on the boat that started this discussion has been on there for 15 years - and is still there, with only a slight suggestion that it might be failing in places.

I know of boats maintained in the "traditional" way that have had major rebuilds after less time than that.

My objection is the suggestion that old wooden boats were "designed" that way and the deficienies should be perpetuated. Boats are for using, and while it is easy to "bodge" it is also possible to keep them in use with a sensible combination of old and new.

 

[udo]

Made up my mind

Finally decided and it became this one:

http://dev.colourcertainty.co.uk/01Images/Sweden-Sailing-Boats/2010/Laurin_Koster-View/

Udo

 

[EastCoastChris]

That's a lovely boat

Thanks for sharing the photos, I've picked up a few ideas I might want to use myself

Chris

 

[udo]

That's a lovely boat

Thanks for sharing the photos, I've picked up a few ideas I might want to use myself

Chris

and what is your idea Chris?

You make me curious!

Cheers,

udo