Boatmik
Active Member
Re: Wooden Boat forum
[ QUOTE ]
The Grand Banks schooners used to salt the fish they caught to dry it and thus preserve it. In the process, they preserved the ships as well. It is this capacity to absorb moisture that gives salt its rot-killing reputation. I don't doubt that in addition it is highly poisonous to rot fungae. You could also use one of the air-drying packs that the swindleries sell to keep the ambient moisture on board below a satisfacory level.
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]
Francis Herreshoff used to rail about that treatment and the use of salt in boats generally.
It just means the timber will be wet all the time.
The end result is if the hull gets a bit warm the salt water evaporates leaving the salt behind at the bottom of the boat and condenses again in some nice cool corner or when the temp drops again.
So the condensation sites are always being damped down with lovely fresh water.
The secret is not salt - it is ventilation. So moist air can get out of every part of the boat so the timber can spend much of its time reasonably dry.
That way you don't get fresh water condensing anywhere.
Salt just means that there is more water held inside the hull to condense as fresh water in some cranny you can't get to.
Michael Storer
[ QUOTE ]
The Grand Banks schooners used to salt the fish they caught to dry it and thus preserve it. In the process, they preserved the ships as well. It is this capacity to absorb moisture that gives salt its rot-killing reputation. I don't doubt that in addition it is highly poisonous to rot fungae. You could also use one of the air-drying packs that the swindleries sell to keep the ambient moisture on board below a satisfacory level.
Peter.
[/ QUOTE ]
Francis Herreshoff used to rail about that treatment and the use of salt in boats generally.
It just means the timber will be wet all the time.
The end result is if the hull gets a bit warm the salt water evaporates leaving the salt behind at the bottom of the boat and condenses again in some nice cool corner or when the temp drops again.
So the condensation sites are always being damped down with lovely fresh water.
The secret is not salt - it is ventilation. So moist air can get out of every part of the boat so the timber can spend much of its time reasonably dry.
That way you don't get fresh water condensing anywhere.
Salt just means that there is more water held inside the hull to condense as fresh water in some cranny you can't get to.
Michael Storer