Rubbing Strakes

[Stobart]

I need to replace the running strakes on my Moody Carbineer. The boat is 46 feet but the strakes are about 30 feet. The existing ones are softwood (and rotting) and I would really like to replace them in hardwood but I am advised such lengths are hard and expensive to find. Also, fitting is quite difficult as there are two different curves to achieve which would require the wood to be steamed and scarfed.

Does anyone know of a 'wood look alike' alternative. I have got samples of Bump! fendering which may be the best alternative. Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[sarabande]

You will be exceptionally lucky to find a single 30ft length of decent timber for rubbing strakes. Cutting that out of a tree requires a large amount of work and conversion of the rest of the tree to firewood.

Recycled timber and plastic is making some inroads into traditional products. It might be worth check with manufacturers, e.g.

Recycled Plastic Lumber UK | Wood | Timber | Garden & Outdoor Products

if they can extrude a 30ft length. I can't see why not.

The physical characteristics of extruded plastic wood may be quite different from natural timber, especially in the short radius bending, and impact , modes, as the "grain" is not longitudinal. The techy guys at the makers should have answers to hand.

 

[Concerto]

Wilkes do a good range of plastic fendering and one should suit.
Traditional Range - Marine

 

[LadyInBed]

It is quite normal to have several (3) lengths, joined with scarf joints.

 

[Seashoreman]

Depending where you are located I would look for a wooden boat builder. I have been successful at getting
long lengths of Iroco machined to size here on Suffolk Coast.

 

[ashtead]

Don’t know if you use these strokes in anger for Baltic sailing but if not I would have thought a Flexiteak extrusion exists or the diy version which retails under a different name. Moody Hanse still fit strakes but at quite a price I believe. I would have thought speaking to a few local yards in locality might be initial route but I suspect price will be higher than one might expect.

 

[salar]

Try a Wilks profile D Profiles - Traditional Range - Marine

 

[Concerto]

Try a Wilks profile D Profiles - Traditional Range - Marine

See post #3

 

[Wansworth]

Maybe a hardwood strake say 3 cms screwed or bolted to the hull then soft wood say larch screwed on as a sacrificial outside strake,should avoid problems of fitting wood to boat shape as small section timber.

 

[ashtead]

If there was a particular location for the Moody this might assist with possible sources of inspiration?