Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended....

[girlfriday]

I have a Walker Tideway 12 foot clinker sailing dinghy that has been sitting in my garage for the last few years while I have been busy producing children to sail it.

One of the ribs towards the front is cracked and needs either replacing or a sister timber putting in. I am trying to be realistic about my prospects of doing the work myself (given my very limited woodwork skills) and thinking about getting it done professionally.

I just wondered if anyone had any idea of what sort of price I should expect to pay for a job like this - obviously it will vary, but what might be a ballpark figure?

Thanks!

 

[Sixpence]

To be honest , this is the sort of job where the price you pay will depend on where you live , could you say what area the boat is in , i.e. , where do you live , not full address just an area will do

 

[girlfriday]

I'm in East Yorkshire, which is not a generally expensive area for most things!
We are hoping to sail her in the Lake District eventually so another possibility would be to get the work done there if there's no-one suitable round here, but I imagine that would cost more rather than less.

 

[Sixpence]

You're more likely to get a good response if you post in the practical boat owner forum then , I think you'll find that the job can be done locally and I know there's a few contributors in your area that post in there rather than here

 

[girlfriday]

Thanks Trevera, will do.

 

[old_salt]

I have re posted this in PBO for the benefit of the original poster.

There is not much a of a problem to to do the job your self as it is an open boat.
If it is with roves cut off the peened over bit remove the rove if clenched dig out the bent over bit and cut off flush as you can, clean out the head hole on the out side of the hull place a tube over the rivet head to prevent any splintering and knock out the nail with a pin punch.
Take out the rib and make a new to match one from Green wood it is most likely to be Oak or have a carpenter make one for you, it really must be green or very freshly cut wood then put it in a steaming box or a peace of plastic drain pipe
with the ends stuffed up and connected to a wall paper striper or some device that will produce steam for about 30 to 45 mins then place it in the hull as close to the position it will be in then pilot drill and re nail it with similar nails to the originals and peen over or clench the nails and thats about it.
I hope this helps.

 

[canalcruiser]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

Thats the best way to do the job.If you really dont feel up to steaming just leave the broken rib where it is and laminate a new one beside.
Laminatings easier as you can buy thin (2/3mm thick) strips which could even be cut by your local "supermarket DIY" shop then glued strip by strip and compressed by screwed on pads before the glue sets you can drill and rivet the new rib in place

 

[girlfriday]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

Thanks for the encouragement, Old Salt and Cruising Steve.... you do make it sound like a straightforward job, but the practicalities of even a small job with toddlers running around are likely to defeat me (and they taught cookery and needlework at my school, not woodwork, so I am lacking in experience of anything other than IKEA flatpacks!) so I think I need to get a professional to do it!

 

[oldfrank]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

I don't think I'd bother with a single timber in a dinghy like yours. If there were a row of cracked timbers, that would be different. Just go sailing and try it. Fix it later. Enjoy. Old Frank

 

[girlfriday]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

That's interesting Old Frank. I have assumed it was bad for the boat not to fix things as they arose but the rib was like that when I bought it so it may be an old break.

 

[ValleyForge]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

I'd echo that OF, these are pretty solid well built jobs. Ours had a number of small cracks mainly around the rivets,never caused a problem. I suggest that so long as there is no obvious flexing / gaps etc. then all will be well for light lake use - so use & fix at leisure. Just make sure your buoyancy tanks are in good fettle (stating the obvious, sorry). There are a few wooden boat specialists around up here (s. lakes) I am sure they could give you an idea - sit down first though !

GF - Coniston, Ullswater, Derwent highly recommended, W,mere can be very expensive to launch & park.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

I'd go along with that as well. I was just talking to Fyne Boats this morning and we agreed that Windymere is the worst place to launch unless you have some formally arranged facilities to use.
(If you join the Scottish National Trust of Scotland (cheaper) you can use Fellfoot Park at the South end of Windermere for launching non-powered boats for free)

Oh, nearly forgot. If you like you could try an epoxy repair of the offending rib. Seal the bottom of it against the planking with Plumbers Mate or something similar and clamp a piece of wood each side of the rib. Put parcel tape on the wood so that the shiny side is against the rib. The pour some epoxy resin (mixed up) into the cack If it's a biggish crack mix some wood dust and silica in to the resin and add that to fill the gap (the first pour will have seeped into the wood).
Leave until set and remove the clamps and wood. The repair will be tougher than the wood. You can rub it down and varnish it. If it cracks again it'll be a new splintering and then think about replacing the rib. So, nothing lost and everything to gain.

This is a similar repair to a frame/deck beam (I forgot to put parcel tape on the clamp - mistake)

 

[roly_voya]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

For minor cracks I have found that if you drill a 10mm hole into the centre and then inject epoxy into it whith a syringe untill it squezes out the sides it forms a good quick repair and stops the crack spreading

 

[crt]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

My old girl (120 yr old Mersea brig) has lots of broken TIMBERS (not ribs). Dont worry about it. However you could double it up over a couple of planks either side of the break with a short piece of shaped timber. Use bronze screws or epoxy if you are nervous about clenching.

The wife's garboards are beggining to sag a bit too, but I still love her!

 

[Niander]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

Ive got lots of broken ribs to fix in my folkboat
so im just gunna sister by laminating
is the best way to use epoxy and screw each individual strip in place?

 

[ValleyForge]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

I replaced a lot of ribs on a BB11 keel boat yonks ago - took the badly cracked old ribs off one at once, layed them out to make template (flat board with lots of bolts in it) & made new laminated ribs out of strips of oak, expoxied together. Fitted a treat, but took a long time though. Ribs fastened to the hull planks by bronze screws, so fairly straightforward. Much easier making tailored-to-fit ribs out of boat than in. One of my all time favourite boats (BB11 UK32). Wonder where she is now ?

 

[Niander]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

Wouldn't it be easy just to epoxy/screw thin strips next to existing rib?/and build up to height of existing rib?
stainless steel screws ok?

 

[ValleyForge]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

Hi Ni, short answer is I don't know ! It sounds easy but will the mechanical strength still be there ? Your fastening back to front as it were into the planks. I suppose you could put screws from the outside once complete anyway. Seem to recall possible longterm probs with SS screws & mahogany - but memories hazy now. Guess it depends what she is - larch /clinker, mahogany glued carvel (as per BB11) etc. etc. I did a fair bit of steaming of the oak strips on mine, but I guess the FB is a bit bigger & maybe they don't need bending so much. I guess sistering with short lengths will be ok, as per previous posts. I'm sure lots of advice will flood in from the experts who've been there before.

I made new ribs because many ribs were cracked right through several times, often into 3 - 5 pieces, causing the planks to distort & open up. Being highly visible (& accessible) making new was an easy decision.

Good luck anyway, belting boats the FB. a fantastic sail.

 

[Niander]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

belting boats the FB. a fantastic sail.

one day ill find out!
but ive got so much to do its unbelievable...at the moment im getting the engine out[gm10] and then probs have to totally strip it...as seized

screws from the outside once complete anyway...
it would be easier from the inside....?



shes strip plank

 

[ValleyForge]

Re: Roughly how much is it likely to cost to get a cracked rib mended.

You could remove the engine for later. The FB sails so well that you won't need one, especially if you can keep her on a mooring (rather than a marina/cramped jetty). That way you get the basics done & you get to use her. Very important on long resto's otherwise inertia & frustration sets in. Year 2 usually (me) Then fix motor at leisure (or revert to a small o/b like the Nordics)- Invest in a good set of sails instead.
Well, thats my thoughts anyway ! Happy fettling.