recaulking

[zpearson]

On my wood Lightning there is up to a 1/4" gap,yes daylight,between the garboard plank and the keelson.The planking is 3/4" cedar,keelson is approx.11/2" thick.The advise needed?Should I cut beveled wood cedar strips to fill?or use cotton caulking and marine sealant?Most other gaps have splines and are reasonably sound.Any help greatly appreciated.Thanks

[Bob Cleek]

Figure out why there's that gap before you start plugging it. If you pack it and she swells when she's launched, you could bust a gut. Lots of reasons why the problem might exist. Read the FAQ.

[Adamant]

Atlantic White cedar swells quite a bit. Be careful the wood has enough room for expansion.

[sdowney717]

Soak the wood with ethylene glycol antifreeze, a 50 50 mix. You could even set up a small bilge pump, a sprinkler and some type of a catch basin under the boat, recycle the antifreeze throughout the bilge will allow the planks to take up and when saturated, will dry out extremely slowly. Plus it will kill any and most all future rot of the wood. I assume the hull was at one time closed up tight, so it should theoretically close up once again. I have also heard of some people using a soft roofing tar to seal plank edges and this is supposed to squeeze out when the planks swell.