Restoring old Wooden 12ft Dinghy

[MASH]

I have a 50yr old traditional rowing boat on the Norfolk Broads. It is fairly sound but getting a bit loose here and there but remains watertight.

Firstly, anyone know of a boatbuilder capable of repairs on a small clinker built boat such as this - location of boat is Beccles.

Secondly it needs paint/varnish, as the old stuff wore off years ago and it has been kept sound using cuprinol. What paint & primer to use on the bottom (it lives in for summer, out for winter) - special boat paint or is that overkill?

Secondly the inside. Can I steam clean or pressurewash it carefully? The buildup of oily gunk is blocking many of the gaps between ribs and planks. Once clean should it be painted - if so with what?

The hull above water and gunn'ls will sand down OK and intend to use varnish on that.

Comments, ideas please.

This boat is rather special and is probably the last traditional rowboat kept afloat on the entire River Waveny.

 

[Mirelle]

Try another forum?

EG the Classic Boat one, a bit lower down.

Steam cleaning sounds like a clever idea, and I don't see why it should not work. However I hesitate to recommend it as I have never tried it. Pressure washing is OK in moderation but you can do damage with it. Hot water, detergent and elbow grease does the job quite well.

Paint and primer on the bottom - yes, use "yacht" paint. Four coats of primer (first one well thinned) then underwater undercoat and antifouling outside, bilge paint inside.

Plenty of capable wooden boat boatbuilders in my part of Suffolk (Woodbridge) so presume there must be some in Beccles. Try the WBBTC in Lowestoft?

Good luck.

 

[MASH]

Re: Try another forum?

Thanks Mirelle, silly sod - I didn't look for the correct forum. Info appreciated.

ps. tried to PM you but you've "exceeded your quota" and you're blocked!