Wooden boats and the Med

[nocturne]

Any advice available onkeeping a wooden boat in the hot and sunny med?

<hr width=100% size=1>Nicholson Jolina class 35' same age as me but looks better www.boatshedbenicarlo.com

 

[Peterduck]

The Med is not so different from here in southern Australia, where I keep my well-aged ketch. During our summer, the Sun is an enemy, not a friend! Look into an alternative to varnish, and I would recommend the Sikkens range, particularly their Cetol finish for brightwork. I have reduced my brightwork to a minimum, but as my boat has working origins, that is not a problem. "Hempex" cordage, or any other polypropylene derivatives will not last over 12 months, so are a poor economy. After that time they break down from the UV light and turn to dust. Only very pale colours for the topsides will keep the boat habitable. A dark hull will become an oven. While not actually using the boat, an all-over cover will prove a boon, keeping the interior cool, a laid deck tight, and any brightwork out of the sun. Arrange it so that plenty of breeze can flow underneath it. Below the waterline, I find that barnacles prefer to colonise my propeller to any other part of the boat. After a while the propeller ceases to propel. I use a high-speed antifouling on the prop and arrange a scrub during the season to keep it nice.
Peter.

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[sailbadthesinner]

PM coilin scott username ccscott49
he's offline at the mo but he is definitely worth talking to

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[Castletine]

Do you have canvass decks?

In the heat these are bound to crack. In fact any 'natural' surface will suffer extreme shrinkage and so needs to be doused frequently in water.

Had no problems with a decent anti-foul, in fact alternating between saltwater and freshwater stopped anything from growing on the hull.

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