Refurbishing our Folkboat

[Capn Pugwash]

SWMBO and myself recently bought a 1962 wooden folkboat. While she is seaworthy and a joy to sail, she does need a bit of refurbishment and TLC. Main task at the moment is to get her watertight above the water line! She tends to leak like a sieve, especially from the windows.
Any advice welcome - I expect to be grovelling for advice/help on a regular basis throughout the next few months!

 

[ningcompoop]

Hi, there is a UK folkboat organisation: http://www.folkboats.com/links.htm
I read in a mag a while ago about an organisation (dutch/scandanavian?) dedidated to the wooden boats but can't find it now, but I know it's out there somewhere...

 

[Madeo]

Yea, I've got one of those too. Leaks like a sieve from all over! Nice boat to sail on the rare occasions I'm not working on it...

Good luck, and if I can be of any help, don't hesitate.

Brian.

 

[trouville]

mine only leaks by now from the deck!But systermatic removal and sealing is slowly stopping those leaks.

When i bought mine built in 1947 the previous owner had no idea about boats! And someone must have given him a battery operated drill and a job lot of screws!

The toe rail and rubbing strake were held down by a screw every 5cms!and on calking cotten or any other sealent on any of them! Result a very leaky boat.

Just remember to seal every time you screw through the deck canvas even along the sides. For the windows which are glass and have been guled in to stop the leaks!!!Honesty! i left them and cut out rubber compression seals which stopped the leaks there.

Then the hatch!Againg remove all the screws and replace one by one sealing each.Its a very long job but worth in when finaly the only leak is by way of the chain plates!!

 

[Capn Pugwash]

Thanks to all for the advice - I will be taking out the windows this weekend and (after thorough examination of the wood surrounds!) re-seating and resealing them. Good idea about the rubber gaskets - I also found a good article about leaks and window seals on line (will post it later when I find it!)

Keep 'em coming shipmates!

 

[ningcompoop]

....found it! The Swedish Folkboat Association have started a "Classic Folkboat" campaign to promote care and restoration of wooden folkboats - found a link on the boatdesign.net forum: http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12045
(acnowledgements to Seaspark)
- apparently its mentioned in Classic Boat, June 2006.

 

[Capn Pugwash]

Thanks Ningcompoop! By the way, where in the seven seas is Mintcakeland?!!

Steve

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Kendal, at a guess!

 

[ningcompoop]

Correct! Good luck with your boat!