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

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girlfriday

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Have already posted this on the Classic Boats forum but was advised to ask here.

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?

I am in East Yorkshire but we are hoping to sail her in the Lake District so we could get the work done there if we can't find anyone in these parts to do it.
Thanks!
 
How long's a piece of string? It depends where the rib is. If there's nothing else in the way (thwarts etc) then it could be quite easy, especially if its right up for'ard as it will be a half-rib. Its a bit difficult to wriggle a new one down between the gunwhale and inwhale, and there might be a stringer to negotiate before you reach the hog.
If it isn't a half rib, I'd be tempted to make it one, by scarfing the new bit across the hog. I would definitely not put a sister in - it looks like a bodge and it is - it stiffens the boat up locally, leading to the ribs each side getting overstressed and creating two new breaks.
It's probably impossible to give an accurate figure for the cost without seeing it first - steaming a new rib and fitting it properly would probably cost £10-20 in materials and take anything from a couple of hours to a day.
 
Thanks, that's very helpful.
Yes, it's a half rib with nothing in the way.

How much is a boatbuilder likely to charge for labour? Say £20 an hour or more or less?
 
You really need someone local to step in here - I just don't know. You could reduce the cost by taking the boat to whoever does it, and maybe even by removing the old rib (grind off the tops of the copper nails on the inside, carefully punch them back out through the planks and the rib should be free (ish!).
I seem to remember that Whitby has a tradition of clinker boat building - cobles probably in that part of the world, maybe there's someone there who can help further.
 
Good idea about taking the rib off myself.

Yes, there are cobles up the E and N Yorks coast - don't know if there are enough to sustain many craftsmen but perhaps someone local on here will know.
 
I would be tempted to contact a joiner first, for a small job like this a joiner will not break the bank.

With regards the worry of stress, is a sister likely to stress the hull on a small boat such as this, really?? This is an honest question, not a criticism of the advice. Though if it is easy to get to, I would probably change it anyhow.

OTOH, a boat builder should have a bin of nails so would not have to charge you for a kilo of nails when he only needs 6, so my advice may not be great. I don't know if you can buy them in very small numbers, when we bought some it was minimum of a kilo I think. My father and I taught ourselves to do the job, it really is not so difficult, but is a two man job, like riveting.

If you are in the NW area, there is a nice man on here who is refurbishing an old yacht who might be able to help you out.. Pm a chap called old_salts, not trying to set him up for anything, but he knows his stuff about planking etc. Once you get over the fact he looks like father christmas he is a great wealth of knowledge.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Looking like Father Christmas is a definite advantage so if I don't find anyone on this side of the country I'll bear him in mind, thanks!

I'm inclined to go for a boatbuilder rather than a joiner, even if I can save a few £££ by using a joiner - a boatbuilder is going to have a better idea about the stresses a boat's under when it's actually in use, I think.
 
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.
With thanks to one of my little helpers of the doggy kind. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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