Soft Keel Timbers

[AJAWATER]

I am restoring a 1936 Elkins Yawl. She is Pitch Pine on Oak, Carvel construction. I have had her out the water for about a year now and am performaing many repairs to damage caused by the boat lying in a tidal jetty for several years.

One concern I have is with the main Keel timber inside the hull. (The outside keel is a full length lead casting) Even after a year out of the water, this timber seems damp and slightly soft - it doesn't take very much force with a scraper or screwdriver to scrape off wood. Is this normal for a boat of this age? Should I be concerned about a loss of strength? There does not seem to be any movement of the keel bolts through this wood.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks.

 

[johnlilley]

Hi
it is difficult to be totally accurate or positive on advising you on your keelson without seeing it, but it is likely to be elm which is generally a very long lived timber when immersed in seawater. Freshwater can cause problems, you do not say whether or not the vessel has been afloat in fresh water. Strength is probably not the most important factor as you say an external keel is attached. This would give longitudonal rigidity, and often the surface of any timber immersed for a long time will be soft and easily scraped. The most important quality it must possess is the abilty to hold fastenings well. The garboard plank ( the one closest to the keel) is probably retained with bronze screws, if the timber can no longer hold these screws because of softness or decay then that would be the biggest concern. Try removing some of the garboard screws and refiitting but almost to the maximum torque before damaging them. They should not strip out the timber. If they do, try longer screws, if these still strip easily you may have already answered your own question.
Try spiking the timber with a sharpened screwdriver, if you can enter the timber easily for over 18mm the decay may be too entrenched to be reliable. Remenber the keelson is of considerable size and a limited degree of softening need not be too serious. Otrher than that get professional advice from direct inspection.
Regards
John Lilley

John Lilley, John Lilley & Associates, Web site www.seasurveys.co.uk for osmosis /timber problems