Todd D
07-06-2008, 04:47 PM
The 1936 power boat I am working on has had a couple of generations of earlier repair work done on it.
The area under the engine, in particular is a real mess. In that area there are partial sisters that were put in at some time when the engine was in place. The extend from the sheer to where the engine beds, which I have removed, were, but not under the engine. Those partial sisters were supplemented in 1995 when the original engine was replaced. The supplemental partial frames extend under the engine and extend about 8" outboard of the ends of the earlier partial sisters. Between these partial frames are the badly deteriorated original frames and the original floors. This picture shows the situation.
http://www.todddunnmicroyachts.com/tortuga/no_beds-2.JPG
Since I took that picture last fall I have removed the floors and the rotted parts of the original frames. My original plan was to laminate new wood in to replace the parts of the original frames that I have removed. I am now thinking that it might be a better idea to remove the short partial sisters that were under the engine and laminate new wood into the older, but sound, partial sisters that run up to the sheer, thus making them into complete frames. If I do that I will be left with quite a few fastener holes in the planking where the original frames were (fastened with iron boat nails - now badly corroded) and the short partial sisters are (fastened with bronze screws).
My question is, "What is the best way to fill the left over fastener holes in the planks?
What I am thinking of doing is to drill the holes out to 3/8" and epoxy dowels into the holes. The planks are douglas fir. Would it be OK to use the hardwood dowels commonly available at hardware stores, or should I make up some douglas fir dowels?
TD
The area under the engine, in particular is a real mess. In that area there are partial sisters that were put in at some time when the engine was in place. The extend from the sheer to where the engine beds, which I have removed, were, but not under the engine. Those partial sisters were supplemented in 1995 when the original engine was replaced. The supplemental partial frames extend under the engine and extend about 8" outboard of the ends of the earlier partial sisters. Between these partial frames are the badly deteriorated original frames and the original floors. This picture shows the situation.
http://www.todddunnmicroyachts.com/tortuga/no_beds-2.JPG
Since I took that picture last fall I have removed the floors and the rotted parts of the original frames. My original plan was to laminate new wood in to replace the parts of the original frames that I have removed. I am now thinking that it might be a better idea to remove the short partial sisters that were under the engine and laminate new wood into the older, but sound, partial sisters that run up to the sheer, thus making them into complete frames. If I do that I will be left with quite a few fastener holes in the planking where the original frames were (fastened with iron boat nails - now badly corroded) and the short partial sisters are (fastened with bronze screws).
My question is, "What is the best way to fill the left over fastener holes in the planks?
What I am thinking of doing is to drill the holes out to 3/8" and epoxy dowels into the holes. The planks are douglas fir. Would it be OK to use the hardwood dowels commonly available at hardware stores, or should I make up some douglas fir dowels?
TD