Refastening advice

[clunker]

Here’s the deal…I am seriously considering buying a 1949 30' Monk Sloop, yellow cedar on oak. She is currently on land and is a work in progress. Refastening below the water line is complete, but she needs 4 new planks and the refastening to be finished. Caulking has yet to be started. I have never done hull repair before and I have no idea as to how big of a job this is. Am I looking at 1000’s of hours and 1000’s of dollars? Or just a few weekends and a few hundred dollars? (I’m just talking hull work right now, I realize the entire project immense).

[Scott Rosen]

I'll bite.

It doesn't have to cost you a lot of money. You can estimate the cost of fasteners, lumber, caulking, seam compound and paint without too much difficulty.

You may have to buy some tools. You'll certainly need caulking irons, screw extractors, stepped drill bits or fuller bits, a good brace and driver bits, and something to cut the planks to shape. You'll also want to get some books on wooden boat repair.

As for the time involved . . . well, there are just too many variables to estimate. I'd say it's a safe bet that you won't be sailing this season, but beyond that, your skill level will be the main factor.

Good luck and nice looking boat.

[Bruce Hooke]

Here's the picture from the other thread. FYI - To get it here I clicked on the Image button at the bottom of the page and pasted in the link to the picture...

http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_b4e66462cd0f26a2d405905559b72a77/i-1.JPG

BTW - Nice boat!!

[Donn]

And here's the Ebay listing. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2420949395&category=26433) More pics there.

[clunker]

Scott, thanks for the info. Bruce, thanks for moving the picture. And Donn, thanks for showing everyone my eBay treasure, like I needed more competition. ;)

[Donn]

Clunker (feels strange to call you that), many of us keep a close eye on Ebay. I saw her the day after she was posted, and, the pic you posted has an Ebay URL.

I'll note that there isn't a lot of information other than the engine and the planking. See if you can get either a current survey, or line up a surveyor to look her over before the auction ends.

Good luck in the bidding...I won't be competing. :D

[nedL]

I won't be competing either (to big a chunk of dirt between here & there), but VERY NICE! She is a pretty one. If she is as the owner indicates it sounds like she may be a good project for someone that doesn't want to make a career of restoring a boat & wants to have a winner when they are done. smile.gif - I'd recommend climbing over every inch of her yourself before hand if you can (along with checking out that survey).

[clunker]

I'm going tommorrow (with my so called expert friends) to take a good hard look. In speaking with the seller, it sounds pretty good. It's only been out of the water a short time and he says the engine runs great. So we'll see...I really like this Woodenboat Forum, so if all goes well and I end up with the boat, you'll being hearing from me, a lot.

[Donn]

Be sure to take a digital camera, and post some porn for us.

[Ed Harrow]

Clunk (is that better, LOL), how is she fastened? Not just planking, but backbone, too. Take it from me, if there's iron holding frames, floors, and keel together you'll be busy. You can click on my little house icon to get to see my project.

Pretty boat, by the way, worth some effort. If your anal and think to much (like me) it will take you too long, but you will have a lot of fun thinking about it. ;)

Oh ya. KEEL BOLTS!

[clunker]

Ed, the Phoenix looks great, what a project! Nice documentation, but, it kinda scared me. I'm curious, when you bought her, did you think you’d be in the water the following season? (like I assume everyone does) or did you know the scope of the project going in?

[clunker]

Ed, what's Phoenix’s length, beam and draft? I couldn’t find it on your project pages.

[Ed Harrow]

Geeze, how'd I miss that? 35', ~9' beam, ~5.5 draft.

When I, in a moment of perverse stupidity, took her on I was figuring five years. That still sounds about right, of course two years have moved on by. smile.gif

[ishmael]

I'll just interject that the problems in the topsides likely have nothing to do with fastenings. I'll wager if you've got some planks starting the underlying framing is wonky. What is the boat fastened with, BTW?

If you've got rotten topside planks they are likely at the shear, and the rot may, no will, involve framing, both hull and deck. The fact that it's planked in yellow cedar, yet is rotting, is not a good sign.

This would be my immediate concern, what is the framing like? A few planks in the topsides are nuthin, reframing or sistering can be a major PITA. To figure it out may take a surveyor, familiar with the issues. A boat rots, well, from the top down, if not looked after, and even if it is.

As to how much it will cost in time and money, impossible to estimate, but somewhere between your original numbers. Count on it being more rather than less.

Forgive my pessimism. It doesn't mean the boat isn't worthy, but its old, and has never had a major overhaul. It's due. Are you the person to do it is the question.

[ 06-27-2003, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: ishmael ]

[RGM]

Sorry to see that Andy is putting her up on the trading block, so to speak. I personally know the surveyor who surveyed this boat. I recommended him to Andy. Additionally, I went thru the boat myself prior to the "official" survey while it was still in the water and discussed a few things with Andy. During the time that Andy was working on it's restoration he and I communicated frequently regarding materials and methods. I'm confident in saying the following;
1. Andy is a straight shooter. He won't try to bend you over the anchor winch.
2. The survey that he is willing to share is as good as it can be.
3. The boat itself is stoutly built and is worth consideration. I know nothing about the rig and sails.
4. It still qualifies as a restoration.

So, depending on the money it could be a very good deal.

[ishmael]

You've got a recent survey?! That's a horse of a different color, as they say. Have at it, let's hear. smile.gif

[clunker]

RGM,thanks for the insight on the seller, glad to hear he’s a good guy. Ishmael, I’ll take a good look at the topside and the framing, hopefully it’s all-good! I’m headed out this morning to check her out, camera in hand, I’ll post some pictures and hopefully get some more advice.