re-planking 1938 Ketch

[Kristen Stevens]

I need advice on re-planking an old boat - - have any of you on the forum performed a similar feat? how expensive is it? How difficult? Let me know

[whb]

Kristen,

Welcome aboard. What is the extent of the project? Are we talking one or two boards or a majority of the boat?

Can you tell us the design of the original? Is the boat in the water now or is it on the hard (on land somewhere)? If the latter is the case has it been out of the water for a long time? If its in the water how often are the pumps running?

Sorry to only ask questions, but answers are almost impossible without a touch more background.

Howard

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Well Kristen .... here are some of my suggestions

1) Determine the extent of the rebuild. Having the boat on shore and removing those portions of the interior which easily come out (to look inside the hull) is a good start. A good assumption is to believe that if a substantive portion of the planking is suspect, that some frames and floors and keel bolts may be as well. Don't put good work over a poor frame. its too expensive in the long run and even dangerous.

2) If there is a fair amount of work required, prioritize it. Obviously the frame and keel bolts must come first, along with the seriously compromised planking. It is possible to do some portions of the boat in stages, as long as there is some overall integrity (moving fore to aft for instance)

3) Decide on your budget, your help, and your materials. Find out who is going to help you, how much its going to cost, (perhaps on a five year capital plan) and identify materials that are available and in enough quantity that you can access them easily. Shop around. DO NOT worry about cosmetic considerations on the vessel until the structural is complete, no matter how tempting.

4) Find out about this boat, and its potential value once you have restored it. It may be a diamond in the rough. (a good designer and reputable original builder.) Or.....

Hey good luck ... and being new here myself, I find this forum very informative.. (enlightening humorous bizarre etc..)

Peter

[jeff pierce]

Kristen,
I'm glad to hear you've decided to replank in lieu of the other options you mentioned in the other post. I'm not qualified to offer advice in that regard, but I can offer my encouragement smile.gif

Don't be discouraged that your questions are met with a lot more questions from us. Once folks ferret out the details they think are relevant they will be better able to provide you good advice.

Do try to post pictures. Its not hard to do and will give us the best chance of understanding the condition of your boat. Besides, we love pictures of wooden boats, even ones that need work.

[Billy Bones]

Hi again Kristen,

Here (http://www.woodenboatstore.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=325-075&variation=&aitem=45&mitem=54) is the book I mentioned before. It contains information on how to go about planking a boat. It was written by a man with a no-nonsense approach to the subject. His designs are famous for their utility and seaworthyness.

You keep mentioning that replanking will be expensive. I think you will find that it is cheaper than you think. The materials alone, foot for foot, will be cheaper than any alternative, and the labor, once learned, will be easy. Expense might creep in repairing the ancillary problems like broken frames and rotten bits, but those problems must be addressed no matter how you go about the project.

Others are currently doing big projects here and update us regularly, often with pictures. As I said, you'll learn alot by searching the forum.

good luck.

[Mike Vogdes]

Kristen,

Did your surveyor give you a detailed list of his findings and recomendations? I would think there are other issues to address besides replanking.

[Ed Harrow]

Kristen, As others have mentioned in both threads, this is a big project... Owning a rotting bundle of sticks of the same age, one that I acquired knowing what was needed as I had her surveyed by one of the best in the business, the comments that have been made re "the rest" are pretty spot on.

How are the planks fastened - nails, screws, rivets? If screws, steel or bronze? What about the backbone hardware, bronze or iron. I can tell you all about iron and oak, and it's not a pretty story after 60 years. The iron attacks the oak (which, presumably, is what was used for keel, frames, and floors) and the oak attacks the iron.

You indicate a need to replank - why does the boat need to be replanked? Who built her? Who designed her? Do take a look at my website to give you some idea of Phoenix. Also, consider taking a class or two at IYRS, or the WoodenBoat School, or one of the several others that are around. You note that you are in Boston, would you care to be more specific?

Good luck! Keep us posted.

[cmtacking]

Hi Kristin, congratulations on your boat. Now comes the FUN!!! :D

Well, actually, it is a LOT of work but there is fun, pride, learning, and expanding YOURSELF mixed in with the brew; the fact that you are seeking advice is a great bonus to those of us who love wooden boats. Yes, it will be expensive, but a bargain in some senses of the word, as you have already "met" new people and learned new things and your quest has just begun. Will it be hard? Of course! Mentally, physically, AND spiritually...but as I alluded, there are dividends and it has been said that very few worthwhile things are easy.

Perhaps, in the end, you will own a seaworthy classic vessel. Good Luck on your quest. Riley Smith

[Tar Devil]

Kristen, oh Kristen, where are you?

Forumites have minimun weekly posting requirements, and you are in serious deficit!!!

PICTURES! BOAT PICTURES, PLEASE!

Later,

Phil