Tar in bilge

[FParth]

In the bow of the 41-year-old H28 I'm working on there was tar poured between each floor in the bow area. The apparent purpose seems to have been to raise the level so that water could drain out of the limber holes in the floors. Could there have been some other reason to do it? The wood doesn't seem to have been damaged by it (as far as I can tell). Was this a common building practice? Do I need to replace it or can I go on my plan and take down the painted wood to bare wood, CPES it, and then repaint it?

[RGM]

It's been awhile since we've heard from you, how's it going? What you've got perhaps is tar, more likely it's called pitch or marine glue. How gooey is it? If it's brittle it's pitch, unless it's been soaked with diesel fuel or a solvent of some sort. What you've surmised is correct, it was used to help spill water to a low point in the bilge where it could be more readily pumped over board. Additionally it would serve as a sealant, hopefully, where it layed up and bonded to the different structures that it was poured up against. It can be considered common pratice, depending on where the boat was built, design characteristics of the floor timber/keel/frame/planking interface and provisions, or lack there of, for limber holes. Anyway, if you need to replace some it's not to hard to come by. Do a search on "pitch" in this Forum and you'll probably come up with more info than you need or want. Without further knowledge of what you've got I'ld seal, paint (red lead) and then re-pitch those areas. Good luck.

[FParth]

RGM,
Thanks for the reply. It's brittle for the most part but gooey in a few areas. When I get the floors and a few frames redone I'll plan on repainting with red lead and replacing the pitch.

I've only sent one new post in a couple of weeks but have replied to a few others. I get to work at 7 am so that I can leave by 4 and get three hours of work in on the boat a night. Working on this boat is the most relaxing thing I'm doing right now, despite (censored) keel bolts and corroded planking screws.

[Dave Fleming]

Second RGM's comments.
Jeffreys Marine Glue is the stuff to look for.
I am down the road in 'insane Diego' if ya interested.