planking question

[m poulin]

Hello all,

I'm looking for help. Here is the scenario, sailboat built in 1972, has been on the hard for about 10 years. Conditions inside are surprisingly sound. Frames, floors, keelson, stem, transom and sternpost all appear solid (no breaks and sistered frames) and no visible rot at all, tiny amount of seeping stains in a few spots inside.

Conditions outside topside are good, original paint and primer. No peeling, no checked or split planks, seams are about 1/16" and open in a few little spots with white fairing compound visible. Below waterline is where I have more concerns. Some planks have split ends at joins, bigger cracks about 1/8", some ends have been refastened with screws not plugged and faired. Somes seams look like they were caulked with whatever rubber compound. Seams are tight overall but in some spots they are open about 1/4". Planking at transom and stem looks good and tight. Deadwood looks solid but some splitting. Again no visible rot anywhere even after pocking with knife and knocking all over with hammer to see if chips or wood dust fall off.

My question relates to what I can expect in terms of take up if the boat were to be put back in the water. This boat is very dry and is double planked which I hear can be tough to swell up. Planking is mahogany, diagonal laid inside, thickness unknown. Outside planking is 3/8" thickness (got my knife blade in a seam to check). The hull is vee bottom.

After packing seams, fairing and painting would this boat ever be reasonably dry or would it forever leak like a sieve.

Thanks for your valued input,

M Poulin

[SchoonerRat]

She's been dry for a long time. She's gonna soak up water like a sponge, and swell. Don't try to fix any seams till she's reached a pretty good point of stableness in her moisture content. Not a bad idea to put her in the water with lots of bilge pumps and watch her carefully. If you can wet her down before you launch, I'd recommend it. Soaker hoses hung from her gunwales work pretty well.

[pcford]

This is one of the most common questions.....

First, have a competent surveyor look at the boat. A survey is the best money you can spend on a boat.

Second, you need to realize that a boat's timbers shrink when they dry and expand when they absorb water. It is totally natural. Most likely the boat will take up when she goes back in the water. Boats that won't take up are usually suffering from excessive expansion of the planks. This crushes the fibers in the way of the seam and they will not take up properly again

Third, you will have to find a caulker who has experience with this type of boat. He will lay in some caulking, being careful not to put in an excessive amount which would hinder expansion.

Fourth, it might be a good idea to not worry to much about the finish on the hull the first year. Might be a good idea to let it settle down and do major fairing the next year. But your surveyor and caulker can advise you more specifically in this regard. Try to arrange letting the boat lie in slings overnight. Have good bilge pumps on board and perhaps rent a 110 sump pump as back-up for the first night. However, the boat will likely take up rather quickly. It's surprising how fast in fact.

Good luck.

[oakman]

Yep, I would second the advice given above. Mahogany will take a little longer to swell than say, cedar, but it will.

Oakman

[m poulin]

Hello again,

Thank you much, that's reassuring (a bit). This boat is on a trailer, what are thoughts on backing it in water in increments to let it fill and swell, then pump out after a time and float it. Is that too much of a strain on backbone?

Cheers,

MP

[Paul Girouard]

Thank you much, that's reassuring (a bit). This boat is on a trailer, what are thoughts on backing it in water in increments to let it fill and swell, then pump out after a time and float it. Is that too much of a strain on backbone?





Do you own your own boat ramp? Or are you saying back it in ,the water for two minutes then pull it out for ten, back in for two minutes then out again?:confused:

IF you could leave it in the water and on the trailer for hours at a time it MIGHT help , it would be sort of like hanging in the slings. Not as good as , but similar.

But the short splash and go , in and out thing , would be not very effective. It would need to "soak" / stay wet for a long period to have the desired effect.

At least thats my think on it.

[SchoonerRat]

No major strain, as long as you don't try to pull her out while she's full of water. The water will support her nicely. Just pump her out before pulling her out.

[Mrleft8]

It'll be pure hell on your trailer though.

[pcford]

What kind of boat is it?

[would work]

Fresh water or salt?

[m poulin]

Hello again,

Belated thank you for the advice. I have purchased the boat, the design is called Silver Wing by A. M. Deering. 24' LOA. Typical project boat not much of a pedigree but given its relative age it is in good shape. Survey concludes ... hull is found in general sound condition and in my opinion vessel is safe to operate at the present time.

I just have to get it wet I reckon cause it sure is dry! It will sail on the Ottawa River.


Cheers,

Maurice