Rot

[Sniper]

Forgive me if this has been done to death before. I've found a small amount of rot in the stern post of my boat, due to rainwater collecting in pockets over the years (35+) while it was hidden away beneath the cockpit floor.

In the ideal fantasy world that I would like to live in, I would place the boat in the hands of a boat builder together with a blank cheque and ask for them to replace the stern post. However, in the real world I will have to sort the job out myself at minimal expense.

I've seen some advice about drenching the rot with anti-freeze to kill the spores, prior to remedial work with epoxy and filler. Does anyone have any experience and/or views about this? Also - I'm concerned about the rigidity of epoxy. Is there a better way of dealing with this?

Many thanks in advance

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tillergirl]

Well I'd be thinking about a graving piece not filler and epoxy. I say this on the basis that the rot is not structurally affecting the strength of the stern post. If it is then replacement I think is called for. But other wise, the rot should be chiseled out and a graving piece of identical timber cut to snuggly fit the space created. I'd use epoxy to glue the piece in. But I am thinking small repair here. Crucial thing is to really get all the rot cut out.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peterduck]

I concur with Tiller girl's answer. Be prepared to find that the rot may extend further than you would like beneath the the surface. However, ALL of it must come out, especially along the end grain, where it proliferates most quickly. Obviously the rebate is of paramount importance, and that the security of hood end fastenings is not jeopardised.
Peter.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Casey]

I agree wiith the other two replies. When I bought my boat she had rot through the beam shelf, along a deck beam and up around the other side. The price was adjusted but it still cost rather a lot as I did not feel capable to do such a very skilful job. The surveyor had said that the rot was in the transom and starboard beam shelf but left it very open ended as did the yard shipwright when he started the job.

The following year I came across a further patch of rot in the transom and cut back into it as far as the stern post. I shaped a piece of the same material and scarfed it in place using much FRESH epoxy putty ensuring that it could not be stuck to the stern post (a placcy bag between the epoxy and the post). It worked very well and I now have to look for the repair.

That year I also kept her open as much as I could, draining the water out of her and leaving the bung out for some months. I also sprayed every space available (and some not) with clear cuprinol. The first year I used about 2 litres and subsequent years about half that usin a garden sprayer of whatever size you can get.

There was a lot of rot spores in my boat when I first bought her but a good wash down with Mangers Sugar Soap followed by the Cuprinol cured that.

This year she has been on her cradle since late October at the sailing club covered but with all hatches open or removed and the bung left out. There has been no sign of rot and she looks much better then when I found her in a sorry state 3.5 years ago.

Incidentally, I am something of a wood squirrel and the boat now has in her part of a Mahogany mantleshelf my daughter had no further use for and the remains of several mahogany replacement window frames which were destined for a skip! Very serviceable and VERY cheap.

Best of luck with it - and don't pay too much initially - if rot is in a hard to get at place it could be very expensive to repair


<hr width=100% size=1>