Launch/relaunch my wooden boat. Will it still float?????

[Mollyfish]

Hi, can anyone help? I have a thirty foot carvel planked wooden boat built in the 1960's. She is moored in a Marina. At the moment she's been floating for the last five years, has a lot of weed underneath her, but lets in very little water. I'd like to lift her out in order to repaint and antifoul the hull. I am worried that if I take her out, the planks below the waterline will dry out, and the seams open up, or that I will disturb the existing caulk, which still appears to function well. I have limited money, do you think I am taking a huge risk taking her out, and letting her dry out? How can I remove the weed without causing any damage? Thanks for your time, Mollyfish

 

[tillergirl]

I've been out since last November and expect her to float when I relaunch next month! After 5 years afloat you are going to take time to dry out and the way you are describing things, you are going to lift, scrub and relaunch within a short space of time and not leave her out for a long time. If this is right don't worry! Sure the spring sun and wind can be very drying but not over a short space of time. Are you taking a hugh risk - no, if she can't stand this, then you need to have her out to sort her. I would high pressure wash the bottom to get off the weed. A scraper might be needed to shift some difficult stuff. Once done check over the seams for loose stopping etc and if necessary attend to any patches that need attention. Frankly with the weed you describe, you have no choie - you not going to go anywhere at a satisfactory speed with a lot of weed. Believe, we've all tried it at some time.

Tell us some more about the boat - class/design etc.

 

[chippie]

Two weeks is usually thought to be ok here in NZ, so get organised and go for it. It might pay to make a scraper to shave off the small barnacles as soon as she comes out, it seems to be easier if you do it straight away. I made one up from 1mm steel about 6"by 4" screwed to an old broomstick with a shallow angle cut on the end about 3" long, keeping the end of the stick about an inch back from the working edge of the blade.

Good luck

 

[Mirelle]

Agree.

Five years of growth is an awful lot, and frankly if there are barnacles in there as well you will need a dutch hoe to shift them (this does actually work very well!).

 

[Gordonmc]

A lot will depend on where the boat has been for the five years. When I lifted for survey the boat had been in the water for more than five years and the weed was thick. She had mussel ropes six foot long - but no barnacles.
A pressure wash and scraper to dislodge the mussels was all that was needed.
This time of year she shouldn't dry out too badly in the space of a fortnight or so but if major surgery delays relaunch some sacking soaked in salt water in the bilges will help.
If you have drying posts or a convenient harbour wall it might be possible to dry her out for a looksee and, over two or three low tides, clean her bottom and anti-foul.

 

[EASLOOP]

I had my East Anglian wooden sloop out of the water for 11 years. Just went back in last summer. She took up very well taking about 4 weeks to tighten right up. I had completely recaulked every seam, deck and hull, making one mistake that suddenly started letting in large amounts of water. Got that fixed now though - something about uncaulked seams in hull will let water in.
She came out of the water last September for missing seam work and will be going back in in June. All the seams have stayed tight with many seams having continued to squeeze out my traditional hull seam material of red lead powder/linseed oil putty/raw linsead oil.
I would imagine you would have no problems for the short period of which you talk.
Good luck
rgds
John