Wooden Hulls

[CharlesA]

I'm wanting to shim off my hull below the water line back to the bare wood (glued seam strip planked African mahogany) in order to prepare and antifoul. However, it may be a month or even two before I am able to repaint and the boat will be on the hard in the open during December/January. Might this lead to any possible damage to the hull which is otherwise in very good condition for a 40 yr old yacht?
Advice appreciated.

 

[clyst]

As a wooden boat builder I would say that provided the wind and rain is kept off the bare hull no damage should occur. Your main enemies are the wind excessively drying the bare wood and water penetrating plank seams and expanding thus opening up the joints.


Well thats my advice.

Fair Winds! Terry.

 

[Guest]

Over wintering ...

In the Baltic I run a 1/4 ton cup boat built of carvel plank pine on hard wood frames.
She is lifted well in advance of the very cold nights / winter we get .... down to -20C at times.... even in day !!

This is allow the hull to dry out as much as possible before freezing and cracking the frames / hull planking.

It is often possible to see inside the hull through the 'cracks' - actually the seams that have opened up ... some as much as 1-2 mm wide.

My iniytial reaction - even as surveyor when I bought the boat was to cry ---- CAULK HER UP or at least a squirt of sikaflex !! Shock / Horror hands waving etc. etc. - seller refuised to take moeny before spring launch and shopwing exactly why NOT to caulk / fill the cracks !! 4 hours iin launch slings, 3 days of mopping out and she was tight as a drum ! 3 years alter I still have not changed it .....

Now she often stays for long periods with hull stripped and bare awaiting spring painting, the boat having a wide tent like cover..... but it is a) not waterproof, b) leaks like a sieve .... so I am not one to argue with a boat-builder .... having spent time at the 'craft' m'self .... but would say that generally - put a tarpaulin over her and she'll be fine ... and at least the hull will be able to dry out properly - not hindered by old paint coating ..... seams opening up always look worse with paint cracked !!!!