Wooden Hulls in The Med

[Tomsk]

Hi

Everyday may plans to escape the UK keep changing - mainly for the good. Currently looking at moving away from White Plastice MoBo to something more intersting.

I've been looking at a 40+ foot wooden hulled sailer built in the 1930's. If I make the assumption that a surveyor gives me the thumbs up, are there any draw backs / problems or even benfits to wooden hulls in warmer climates?

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

Can I leave the planet please.. this one is broken!

 

[Talbot]

definitely cooler on the feet , but some decks can open after a prolonged period of too much heat, and you can get somewhat wet inside until the hull takes up again. The same problem can arise when working close hauled in bad weather. and then theres the maintenance!

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[Tomsk]

Re: Maintenance - well I suppose I will need something to occupy me!

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

Can I leave the planet please.. this one is broken!

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Teredo Navalis

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bruce.ruiz.net/PanamaHistory/teredo_navalis.htm>http://www.bruce.ruiz.net/PanamaHistory/teredo_navalis.htm</A>





<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

</A>

 

[Tomsk]

Re: Teredo Navalis

Yikes!

The web page you posted suggested copper plating.. Must ask TCM about this.. Are there any other known ways to stop the worm?

<hr width=100% size=1>Tomsk -

Can I leave the planet please.. this one is broken!

 

[tugboat]

There's plenty of good reading about in the form of books written by people cruising warmer waters in wooden boats. They all say it is vital to maintain the integrity of the underwater paint system. There must be no unpainted areas in awkward spots like rudder trunkings and any scuffs or grounding damage must be repainted straight away. Copper coating was the way to go before the advent of effective antifouling paints and had the added advantage that the 'worm' bent it's teeth and couldn't penetrate, but it's a skilled and expensive job nowadays. Frank Mulville's book 'Rescue & Recovery' is worth a read as it describes the use of black varnish and brown paper as part of the coppering process after he ran his wooden boat ashore.

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[roly_voya]

Two words of caution, first make sure any survayor really is a specialist in wooden boats and ask what is covered - you do want all the corners inspected, you do want keel bolts checked, you do want fastnings withdrawn and inspected. The usual visual inspection and oile of disclaimers wont help when the planking opens in the first storm. A good wooden boat is better than most anything else but finding a good one is the trick.
Second 70+ is long in the tooth even for wooden boats, OK my oldest one is 120 but I would do a long offshore passage in her. At that age she will have to have been very well bilt and maintained to be up to it.

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[scarlett]

In the Med. I have seen a lot of wooden boats with the deck covered in sacking and carpets, liberaly soaked with sea water. This is fine if you are aboard but must cause a problem if you need to leave a boat.

 

[MapisM]

Don\'t worry

[ QUOTE ]
Are there any other known ways to stop the worm?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, just forget it!
That's a thing of the past, practically not existing anymore in the med.
Unless you mean the hottest/southern areas of the med, AND
you're planning to leave the boat in the water all year round.