Wooden Boats in American Samoa?

[Alan D. Hyde]

I have heard several retirees talk in glowing terms about American Samoa. One's even thinking of moving there (it's treated as part of the States; receives U.S. Mail, etc.).

Nobody I've ever talked to who's been there has noticed any wooden cruising boats afloat, or under construction.

Is that because they weren't looking, or because they're not there?

Alan

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by Alan D. Hyde:
Nobody I've ever talked to who's been [to American Samoa] has noticed any wooden cruising boats afloat, or under construction.

Is that because they weren't looking, or because they're not there?One word: shipworms :eek:

[Terry Etapa]

I've been to Palau. There I didn't see any wooden boats. However, in Fiji, I saw many wooden skiffs. I'm leaving for Tuvalu in about a week. I hope to see what traditional wooden boats they have, if any. If I find anything interesting, I'll try to get some pic's.

My guess, Samoa is another land of Spam and Coca Cola. Wooden boats went the way of traditional ways.

[John B]

If I was to cruise the islands, I'd want to do it in something it wouldn't break my heart to lose. It's also pretty hot up there. eg it's better to have a resorcinal glued mast ( so I'm told) than an epoxy glued one. One man told me about having to split and re glue his mast because of the heat effect.
I hadn't thought of the worms. My first thought would be reefs( and not always where they are marked..Second, Hurricanes.That's why the cruisers come down here for summer.

[paladin]

all the above...dirty....costs a fortune to import stuff....oil in harbor breeds polyestermites......toredos thrive....no wooden boat infrastructure...