Newbe when it comes to wooden boats..some help

[dino_dino]

Hi all

I hope some can help me.

I am seeking a new boat, a 25-33 power boat, to be used at t he lake for day trips, crusing around, stop for sunbathing and maybe a swim.

I was looking at plastc boats, but the other day I did se a wooden pretty in the marina, aComitti 28 Venezia. WOOW. So shiny, so pretty she was/is.

All my ideas about wooden boats are gone, that is one nice boat.

But, when buyin one, what to look for?
I have been told a wooden boat is no more work tht a plastic one when it comes to maintenance, so tha is ok.

I have never bee in a wooden boat, so all help is good for me.

Thanks for looking

 

[Keith 66]

There is a fundamental difference between wood & GRP. With GRP you can forget the maintenance for a few years & get away with it, do that with a wooden boat & you are in trouble. And dont buy one that is cheap, rotten etc, far better to buy one that has had all the work done already!

 

[oldsaltoz]

Hi all

I hope some can help me.

I am seeking a new boat, a 25-33 power boat, to be used at t he lake for day trips, crusing around, stop for sunbathing and maybe a swim.

I was looking at plastc boats, but the other day I did se a wooden pretty in the marina, aComitti 28 Venezia. WOOW. So shiny, so pretty she was/is.

All my ideas about wooden boats are gone, that is one nice boat.

But, when buyin one, what to look for?
I have been told a wooden boat is no more work tht a plastic one when it comes to maintenance, so tha is ok.

I have never bee in a wooden boat, so all help is good for me.

Thanks for looking

Timber boats are or can be a thing of beauty and easy to fall in love with.

However unless you are prepared to spend a lot of time doing maintenance and I mean a lot, walk away.

I have seen this many times, people buy timber boats because they love the look and feel of them, but then discover how much time and effort is needed to keep them looking nice, not to mention the cost.

My advice would be keep looking.

PS I love timber boats, but not as much as I love sailing and spending time maintaining a timber boat when I could be sailing is just no good enough.

 

[dino_dino]

Thanks for the reply and information.

Well, work is ok, to a limit. Is it THAT much on a new wooden boat to? 2-4 years old. Guess it comes down to how good the last owner did keep it.

But, when looking around, what to look for in a wooden boat, what can give away a poor keep one, from a good one?

 

[DownWest]

One would be interested to see what was for sale at 2/4 yrs old. Old classic construction is relatively high maintainance. Modern epoxy/wood techniques less so. If you like wood, you need to love it. If not, go plastic. But expect to pay a lot for a good modern wooden boat.
A

 

[oldsaltoz]

Thanks for the reply and information.

Well, work is ok, to a limit. Is it THAT much on a new wooden boat to? 2-4 years old. Guess it comes down to how good the last owner did keep it.

But, when looking around, what to look for in a wooden boat, what can give away a poor keep one, from a good one?

In simple terms a timber boat has many joints between many planks, any leak, and I mean any, has the potential to cause major problems above or below the waterline. So a boat made of many parts joined together and a material that may rot if it gets wet is a high risk.

Fibreglass or composite hulls do not have this problem because it will not rot when exposed to water like timber will, and it has very few joints if any joints to leak.

Some fibreglass boats are many many years old and have never needed painting or varnishing. Timber boats are mostly painted or varnished from day one and need to be re coated to protect the timber.

You could be out on the water on the water or painting, the choice is yours.

.

 

[oldharry]

Hi all

I hope some can help me.

I am seeking a new boat, a 25-33 power boat, to be used at t he lake for day trips, crusing around, stop for sunbathing and maybe a swim.

I was looking at plastc boats, but the other day I did se a wooden pretty in the marina, aComitti 28 Venezia. WOOW. So shiny, so pretty she was/is.

All my ideas about wooden boats are gone, that is one nice boat.

But, when buyin one, what to look for?
I have been told a wooden boat is no more work tht a plastic one when it comes to maintenance, so tha is ok.

I have never bee in a wooden boat, so all help is good for me.

Thanks for looking

Wooden boats are beautiful - usually. But you have to work hard to keep them like that.

It is very very easy to cover up major faults, with a couple of coats of paint. Theres an old saying 'only the paint is keeping it afloat' and this is not without some truth.

If you find one you like you need to get a Surveyor who is experienced in wooden boat construction to do a full 'pre - sale survey' This will cost you several hundred pounds, but would save you from buying a nicely painted up wreck.

And whatever enthusiasts say, you will HAVE to give it meticulous maintenance to keep it looking nice. This involves many hours of hard work rubbing down and painting it with 'proper' paints - not the cheap dowmstic rubbish you get from Homebase!

You pays your maoney and takes your choice: buy a plastic boat and spend most of your spare time on the water, or a lovely wooden boat, on which you will spend almost as much time working as you do afloat. Or you buy a wooden boat and spend all your time on the water... and after a couple of years it will stop looking lovely and cost you a fortune in time and materials!

 

[stuhaynes]

There's something about wooden boats that you don't get with GRP, I don't know what it is exactly but it's a real tangible feeling that creates a 'connection'.
When I bought our current boat, almost 10 years ago, she was already 50 years old. If I'd had more money I might not have bought her, though I like to think that I still would have. The advice I've given myself is the same I'll give to you. When we move on to a bigger boat we'll be more than happy to get wood again, providing the boat is well looked after and maintained. Playing catch-up can be a wearying occupation.

Talking about well maintained boats, has anyone seen anything of 'Gularis'? She's timber, beautiful and about 40ft long. Last seen prior to leaving Doncaster for a new life on the Norfolk broads about 3 years ago.

 

[BroadAmbition]

Spending all my afloat time on the Broads as I do, I can't remember seeing her. Craigs database lists 'Gularis' as built in 1938 class 'Hyland 41' 40ft x 10ft, she is also listed as leaving the Broads system in 1987. But she could well be back there, you got any more info? (I live just outside Doncaster btw)


Griff

 

[dino_dino]

Thanks all

Well,I do like the look of the wooden boat...Oh, was at the marina today also, just looking..hmm.

Yes, it will be alot of work, crazy maybe...But she is so pretty.

Do Comitti use good wood, good workmanship when making a boat?

 

[oldharry]

You are obviously sold on the idea! Go for it!

You will either become totally convinced wood is really the ONLY material for a 'proper' boat, or that wood belongs to Noah and his Ark!

The only way to find out is to experience it! Believe me, you will never make up your mind by 'just looking'. But do get someone who knows wooden boats to go in with their eyes open first. Wooden dreams can be expensive nightmares! A 'class' boat like this can be assumed to have been well put together using good materials. What is vital is to find out what happened since - has it been properly looked after? Even the best built hull will not stand up to much abuse and negelect, and an awful lot can be hidden under a coat of fresh paint.

 

[dino_dino]

Thanks for the information and good tip.
I will get someone to help me out.



Will lett you all know how it is going

 

[stuhaynes]

Gularis

Spending all my afloat time on the Broads as I do, I can't remember seeing her. Craigs database lists 'Gularis' as built in 1938 class 'Hyland 41' 40ft x 10ft, she is also listed as leaving the Broads system in 1987. But she could well be back there, you got any more info? (I live just outside Doncaster btw)


Griff

She was moored at Stanilands for some years and spent every winter in the covered dry dock, must have cost a few bob! I never got to know the owner unfortunately. I went into the yacht club at Stanilands (one of the nicest drinking holes on the system, highly recommended) and just happened to ask where Gularis was. I was told that the owner had sailed her to the broads as a last trip and she had been sold there. Shame because she would have been perfect for us. Oh well...

Gularis is 10ft longer than our boat, but built on very similar lines. Last time I saw her she was immaculate, where ours is still a 'work in progress', as the saying goes.

You'll have to let me know if you spot her.

 

[BroadAmbition]

I'll keep an eye out and let Craig know ref his database.


Griff