Repair question

[Wgriffin]

Allegro spent last winter on the hard, first time that I've had her out of the water except spring haulout. Stripped many years of bottom paint, and found some plugs missing--the hole was filled with paint. Also, have a plank that has sprung, I just remover the fasteners (bronze) and from the looks of them they had been through the limber holes, and just barely into the floor timbers. I can't find any R O T, but on examination there are some frames cracking on the port side, up under the ceiling. Only three screws had let go. I think the warm weather has warped the plank, but it pushes back into place easily. Question is: Do I just get some longer fasteners, and put the plank back in place? Or, should I start looking for a barn and settle in for the next two or three years, and start a total refit? I will be constantly fretting about that plank and the fittings if I just repair that. She's in too good a shape to toast marshmallows, only 70. Here it is July, and if I launch this year, it will likely be to soak up water and then tie up for the winter. Then again, I've only sailed her a couple or three time each of the last two summers. :confused:

[Ian McColgin]

Cracked frames are an it depends issue. Three cracked across the grain in a row in the same place means a local stress problem that you at least want to understand. But often even cross grain cracks are just not a big structural problem and along grain cracks are often less a problem.

Same with the sprung plank. Obviously, the original builder hadn't noted the limberhole though why he didn't notice drilling the pilot remains obscure. I'd be inclined to just plant a longer screw and not worry.

But really, we've not enough info here. It might be well to get a good surveyor in to look her over and compare what s/he regards as possible, what happens with further drying, and realistic notions of what you want to do with the boat.

If you're not going to use her hard, buttoning up and getting her wet may well be the best way to keep her till you're really ready for hard work. On the other hand . . .

G'luck

[Wgriffin]

Thanks Ian, that's my thought--some new, longer screws, seal the seams that need it and some paint, get her back in the water. The cracks in the frames are where they are bolted to the floor timbers. The hull looks fair in that are. Above the waterline, some of the planking is spreading slightly in the area of the chain plates. I don't want to pull the deck off, it has been glassed sometime in the past and it's a good job.