clinker (lapstrake) restoration

[SaintAustell]

I've got a horrible feeling that this question has been asked - and answered - many times before, but, at the risk of boring you all, here goes:
I've just bought a mahogony on oak clinker built dinghy circa 1950, with the intention of restoring, them trail/sailing her. She is basically sound, but has been dry stored for some years, and the lands between the planks need attention. I've been given loads of conflicting advice pro/anti epoxy, sikaflex etc. and would like some views from people who have dealt with similar problems. Any other general advice also gratefully received - thanks.

[Steve Lansdowne]

Use the search function to access previous posts which may be relevant to your question.

[Jack Heinlen]

Is the boat riveted?

Without seeing the boat, and predicated on no one having mucked up the plank lands in the past.

The first thing, if you haven't already, is to strip the paint, at least from around the seams. This will allow a better look at the gaps you've got. DON'T go digging around IN the seams. If she's riveted much of the solution will be to harden up on the rivets, or re-rivet(partially?) if rivets are corroded away. This will close the gaps, assuming there aren't any underlying issues such as loss of shape due to poor storage. This would also be the time to bend in some new framing if needed.

As the boat is to be dry sailed, there is a technique using sikaflex that is well described in Walt Simmons' books on lapstrake boat building, which a local library should have, or be able to get. Basically, you use a fine, U-shaped venier to cut a shallow caulking seam at the outboard terminus of each seam, and use that to lay the sikaflex in. This allows a solid-planked boat to be dry-sailed without waiting for the planks to take up.

I'm sure others will have opinions, but this works. Some have made boats tight again by just laying the sixaflex into the open seams, but I don't like it. It doesn't address any underlying fastening problems, and if it fails to seal things up you have a mess. NO epoxy in those seams! What if you hole her at some point, and a few planks need to come out?

My opinions.

[SaintAustell]

Copper rivetted