Sharpie Renovation - Loads of advice needed

[Forbsie]

It looks as if I may have acquired this Sharpie as my next project.

The state of the wood seems to be rock solid although some of the joints/seams have parted a little. The thing is that I know nothing about renovating a wooden boat. I am particularly worried about sealing the hull which is planked. Previously it's been done with some rubberized paint from Alsfords but I was thinking about epoxy. What are your views?

It is Gunter? rigged with a bamboo mast. What is this and is it normal for a Sharpie?

The majority of the work, apart from the rigging, will be cosmetic. Will this be within my capability or are there pitfalls?

 

[Deleted member 478]

Think you should drink another ten beers and get over it.

 

[Mirelle]

Well done. A good boat to tidy up and use on the Thames. Nothing that a good scrape and varnish won't sort out.

Epoxy is not usually a good idea on "real wood" structures; the wood moves rather more than the epoxy coating will tolerate and it will fall off.

Use normal varnish, eg Epifanes, on the topsides and decks and a fresh water antifoul on the bottom.

Yes, gunter rig is normal for classic Sharpies and the bamboo spars might be original from the 1930's.

 

[Forbsie]

Thanks Mirelle.

I must admit that I was concerned about epoxy but had read somewhere that this was possible.

Re Epifanes, can I still use turpentine to thin it down for the first couple of coats. I just bought my first tin of it for my Buckingham after it being recommended by the owner of the Streetley and Henley which have acres of varnish. Does it have good adhesion for walking on the decks? Any tips on taking it back to the wood? What is best to seal the seams?

As I said, Loads of advice needed. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

p.s. The bamboo spars are definitely original and some of the sails are 50 years old but I cannot find the spinnaker which is a bit of a bummer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And as for you, Stingo, this project is meant to stop me drinking those 10 beers!!!

 

[trouville]

I use the same but dilute it with white spirit. Very rarely i use reall turps as it smells "traditional" and the can it comes in looks great!

Dont use epoxy anyway you need a humidity leavel you wont reach to apply it properly.

Epoxy = rot in the medium term,its expensive rotten to work with an will give you the reall risk of Cancer,lunge and or skin complaints. Epoxy has no place on a traditional wooden boat, so along with silicon its a NO!

 

[Mirelle]

Scraping back to bare wood

Agree with Trouville.

Now, scaping back the varnished parts of the hull...

I find that the best tool for this, by a country mile, is a Sandvik scraper.

These have orange plastic handles, are quite expensive, and take tungsten carbide blades which cost about six or seven quid each. Resist the temptation to economise, and buy a wide (2" or so) flat one and a triangular one and a spare blade for each; the blades last a very long time and they will do the whole of your Sharpie.

Then sand with the grain starting with a medium grit and finishing with fine, wipe down carefully with a tak rag or with a cotton cloth wetted with white spirit and apply the first coat well thinned.

Sealing the seams..

The Sharpie has "batten seam carvel" construction which is also found in wooden runabouts - this has a batten behind each seam because the carvel strakes are too thin to caulk reliably - it is a pretty strong construction.

I am not sure that you need to do anything very much to seal the seams, beyond painting the topsides and varnishing the bottom, provided the boat has not dried out alarmingly, which does not look to be the case here. I see she has some bilge water inside...

 

[burgundyben]

Well done Forbsie, a cracking project.

How is the Buckingham?

 

[fishermantwo]

I don't agree with some of the earlier comments on the use of epoxy. Have a look at www.rotdoctor.com. Excellent web site with lots of FAQ. The author of this site is restoring a tug boat from the late 1800's. Epoxy is the best way of retaining originality if that is your aim. Just don't try to sheave the hull.

 

[Santana379]

Re: Tug Boat Renovation

A tug boat - now that sounds like a project.

How do you feel about completing it in four months? (See Boat Restoration thread!) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ccscott49]

I'll be over to inspect!! Yes you can use real turps with epifanes varnish, it is better anyway. Put it this way I have been doing so for 15 years. Call me or PM or E mail, Bye!

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Excellent.... a member at my club has a Sharpie in excellent condition... and on a nice sunny day she certainly looks a treat on the water......

 

[Forbsie]

Re: Scraping back to bare wood

[ QUOTE ]
Now, scaping back the varnished parts of the hull...

I find that the best tool for this, by a country mile, is a Sandvik scraper.

[/ QUOTE ]

"What a magnificent tool!!" said the actress to the bishop.

I bought these this morning as suggested and they are absolutely brilliant. I wish I'd known about them 3 years ago. I managed 2 hatch covers and half the cockpit in a couple of hours practice. Got to be careful with that pointy one jumping surfaces, but I'm sure the scratches with sand out. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ QUOTE ]
beyond painting the topsides and varnishing the bottom

[/ QUOTE ]

This IS the wrong way round, isn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Thanks very much again for your advice, Mirelle. It's probably saved me weeks of work.

 

[BrendanS]

Beaut!

You can take me out for a spin once it's renovated! I'd volunteer my help if I wasn't so far away, and wasn't so condidering of my liver <g>

 

[Mirelle]

The wrong way round

Yes, it certainly is; I noticed the blunder shortly after the "editing" period had expired! Sorry!