Lapstrake Replanking

[NuSKcalB]

Just about to embark (with my boat building buddy) on the partial re-planking (and 'partial planking', re-planking) on my 70's wooden boat.

A number of consecutive planks are rotten on their top (inside) edges (to a depth of an inch or so) for a lineal run of anywhere from 12 inches, to a maximum of 2 feet.

Planning to remove the bad sections (in 'longer than needed' staggered stages and where a butt block exists close by, taking that out too) and making new planks from the old patterns. I then plan to install the new planks using 12:1 scarfs (and butt blocks, where originially installed), re-caulking with Boatlife (as the rest of planks are) and re-fastening with new SB machine screws.

Planks are Mahogany and 5/8 thick, 5 inches deep with a 1 inch lap/gain. Currently caulked with something like Boatlife and held together at the lap with silicon-bronze machine screws/nuts.

I've gone through the existing forum topics on this kind of work and just wondered if anyone had any dos', don'ts or 'pearls of wisdom' they wished to share?

Thanks
NuSKcalB

[NuSKcalB]

Great! No negatives, looks like my plan is the way to go.

NuS

[Thorne]

More info -- size and design of boat, stored in water always or trailer-sailed, etc.

Most builders stick to either bronze/copper or stainless fasteners, not mixing them for boats that live in the water, particularly those with electrical systems.

I used Vulken116 to recaulk the fir lapstrake planks on my dory skiff, seems to be working very well -- are you going with Boatlife just to match the rest of the boat or for some other reason?

[NuSKcalB]

More info -- size and design of boat, stored in water always or trailer-sailed, etc.


25' Folkboat

5 months in saltwater/7 months on land
Existing fasteners - SB
Boatlife - used it on other projects (therefore already have it) and it doesn't set 'hard'.

NuS

[Jay Greer]

I just got called in on the restoration of a lapstake steam launch that was built in 1921. Over the years repairs have been made to the hull planking which is Eastern White Cedar. The origional hull is fastened with copper rivets. All of these fastenings are still good. However, due to some collision fractures some planks were either replaced and or refastened with SS screws. Unfortunatly these repairs have gone bad and will require special attention to set things right.
JG

[KAIROS]

25' Folkboat
Boatlife - used it on other projects (therefore already have it) and it doesn't set 'hard'.NuS

I inherited a case of boatlife. Excited. But then was reminded by an expert that all that kind of stuff has a shelf life. If it's anywhere near a year old, it may not be worth the labor to make use of it. The labor is more an issue than the material cost for most applications, no?