taking up

[m1taylor]

As a first timer with a wooden 17ft clinker yacht (mohogony planks on oak ribs) - I am unsure what to expect when she goes in the water. The boat has been out for around 18 months - I bought her like this for next to nothing. The wood is all sound - no rot at all. And I can't see any opening up at all - no visible cracks anywhere. Once re-painted, its hard to believe there would be gaps, but I know water works through the tiniest space by capilliary action. So impossible question - will she sink or float first time in? If a boat starts taking in a little water, how quickly do planks swell enough to stop the inflow? I am just hoping that if she takes up, she does it it quickly and doesn't get too full of water.

 

[fluffc]

She will pretty much try to sink herself for a few hours. Much bilge pumping required until she takes up.

 

[Woodlouse]

You won't know till you put her in the water. Have a mains powered submersable pump with a float switch ready when you put her in. It'll be obvious immediately if it's required.

If you couldn't see any signs of her opening up then you might be alright.

But have the pump ready anyway.

 

[tn863az]

I am not sure what kind of facilities you have access to but I have used the following method with a couple of clinker built dory’s.
Find a suitable sandbar or gentle sloping bottom and launch just after high tide. Assuming a secure mooring or anchor and allowing for vessel draft she won’t go far if she takes up too much. Repeat as necessary.
Or: Is there a way to get some seawater onto her hull before launch? Car battery powered bilge pump, suitable length of hose and with or without some old canvas or carpeting or even bed sheets draped tight over the hull and soaked every three or four hours is effective although admittedly a tedious and none to pretty bit o’ work.

 

[old_salt]

You are probably worrying over nothing she is only 17ft long, launch her on a trolley down a slip way then the problem does not exist you can let her sit on the trolley and if she takes in any water just bail her out as she takes up once she has taken up probably in 2/3 hrs may be less "really no one can tell till you put her in" at the most if she is as tight as you say all should be OK. Treat her gently for the first hour then when you are satisfied all is OK you can go exploring.
I see you are at Salome if I remember rightly there is a public slip near the town. Also a super area to explore.

 

[oldfrank]

Attach a bucket to a long enough pole to go under the boat. Fill the bucket with sawdust. As the bucket goes in the water turn it upside down - so the floating saw dust is held in the bucket. When you've manoevred the bucket to the place you want it under the hull - turn it the right way up again and all your sawdust will float up against your hull. The sawdust will find your leaks and as it (and the planking) expands) will seriously reduce any leaking - and usually stops it. Remember - the sawdust will only hold until you move the boat - it just makes life easier until the boat takes up.
Old Frank.

 

[Adrian_Morgan]

Try it and see. If she's as tight as she looks then it won't take long. If she sinks, then leave her submersed (as long as it's safe to do so, and she won't come to any harm. I presume she won't sink completely (buoyancy bags??) Pump her out in the morning and she should be fine. Only one way to find out