Storing a wooden boat.

[apindrans]

How do you store a wooden boat for 2 - 3 years without letting her deteriorate?

In the not too distant future I may have to make the decision of going to Europe for work reasons, and leave my wooden Vertue in Australia.

Selling is not an option because more work needs to be done to bring her back to her former glory, and at this stage I would lose money. The hull is very sound, but out of the water in the Australian sun the planks will open up.

The deck has been totally sealed, and is weather proof. The interior is gutted and all furniture, fittings, and electronics removed.

For a 3 year period is it viable to store her out of the water under a makeshift cover i.e. frame structure and weather proofed, or keep her in the water with a cover?

As much as I would like to take the boat with me (it's a serious option), I may be re-located to Switzerland, and this may not be practical because of mooring retrictions, and transportation issues.

Andy

[Dan McCosh]

I can't imagine storing it in the water, unless you have a good caretaker. I would pull it, cover it, and assume it will dry and shink. It isn't that big a deal to let it soak up again in the future. All the shrinking will take place in a couple of months regardless of how long it stays out of the water. Staying dry should also stop any rot from progressing.

[imported_Jimmy]

I think the best way to store a wooden boat is in the water (salt water), under cover, in a cool climate. If you could get her in a boat house and come back every year to haul and paint her she would be OK. Paying somebody to look after her or work on her would help.

Finding somebody to take over the project and selling is probably a better plan. There is always somebody willing to take over the project if the price is right. Unless she has a serious pedigree and you count your time as worthless, you are unlikely to make money or even break even so that shouldn't be a consideration.

I have thought about the same situation with my boat and even in a much milder climate I wouldn't want her out of the water for a whole summer. I would put her in a boathouse and come back once or twice a year, and have somebody look after her.

If you could store her out of the water, inside with some kind of climate control, that might be good too. Having said all of that, lots of boats have been restored after being out of the water for years. The sun and dry climate in most parts of Australia might just be too much though. Hopefully some locals have some more experience that will be helpful to you.

[Gary E]

I have been known to come up with hair brained ideas from time to time like the idea of making a pit above ground like a swimming pool, but fill it with bottom paint so the travel lift could just dunk your boat, then drop it in the water. This time just fill the same sorta pit with water and let the boat sit there on it's cradle, or blocking. Water as needed like a plant.

Told ya it was goofy... smile.gif

[ 07-06-2005, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Gary E ]

[JimJ]

What about strech wrapping the boat on the hard?

http://www.packmate.com.au/stretchwrapfilms.htm

[Victor]

In a shed out of the sun and wind with sand underneath.

[Bob Cleek]

No, no, no! Shrink wrap will promote rot like you can't believe! Sheesh... advice is worth what you pay for it.

The first question this Vertue owner has for you is what is she built of? If she is one of the Cheoy Lee teak Vertues, you can expect very little movement in dry storage and she will take up well. If she is one of the other planking materials, you should expect her to open up more. If you can store her in a covered shed, she should be fine. If she is a teak hull, marine borers should be a small consideration and you could pull the mast and keep her in a covered berth out of the sun and in the water with a friend or the yard to keep an eye on her. On the other hand, if this isn't possible, a shed with a dirt floor is fine. Now, I'm not advising a shed with a dirt floor out in the desert, but anyplace near the water should do. She will need a chance to take up when you relaunch her, but otherwise she should be fine. Your major concerns under such circumstances should be good ventilation to prevent rot and somebody to keep an eye out for termites!

[htom]

Please, not shrink-wrap.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Not shrink wrap.

Ashore, in a big, airy, dark, shed is by far the best option. As Bob Cleek says, teak won't move much anyway (Mirelle went back in last month having been ashore for 18 months and I did not touch the pump for a week - after that I pumped four strokes!). Pitch Pine can be the worst planking wood for shrinkage as it moves a lot and once it gets wet again the tar in the wood slows down the take up of moisture, so it takes ages to take up.

I respectfully differ from Mr Cleek on the subject of marine borers and teak.

Many years ago Dr Ronnie Andrews gave a lecture at the Little Ship Club on his circumnavigation in Merlin where he handed round a piece of teak riddled with teredo.

Four years ago a fellow - Forumite in Hong Kong handed me a sample of teak in just the same condition - riddled with teredo on three sides, apparently sound on the fourth, but actually with less integrity than a sponge.

If laying up afloat she will do OK in a mud berth with an all over cover allowing ventilation at the ends. The cover should extend over the topsides.

[apindrans]

That's what I love about this forum, advice from all angles, and solutions that allow me to make a measured decision. Thanks guys.

I will be paying the same amount whether I leave the boat in the water or on the hard. As it's a large marina I'm dis-inclined to trust the yard to pay personal attention to my small boat. So based on the info you have given I am planning to haul her out at a smaller more personal yard, and build a frame with a cover to keep most of the elements at bay.

The hull is of sound New Zealand Kauri so I'm not too concerned about rot. At the moment the interior is gutted so I don't have to worry too much about mould on furnishings. However, I do have a brand new Volvo so will make sure that is checked and serviced on a regular basis.

I've had the seams open up before when on the hard in summer, but once the weather cooled they closed up completely, and there was no leakage when I put her in the water.

I suppose time will tell whether I've made the right decision. But she's a wooden boat, and very forgiving.

Andy