Watertight Compartment ??

[SNagy]

The hull of my Buzzards Bay 15 was restored by Gannon and Benjamin this winter. We are now finishing the job in a restoration class at The Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory. There is a watertight compartment forward of the bulkhead. I have been told that I should leave the interior of this compartment bare wood ... no sealer, no primer ... nothing. Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on this advice? Thanks.

-Steve

http://home.comcast.net/~nagys/ELF_PWBF_1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~nagys/ELF_PWBF_2.jpg

[Klaus]

What kind of bare wood, teak?
My boat is of oukume plywood construction and has 6 sealed flotation compartments. All have 2 coats of epoxy and 3 coats of paint on all internal surfaces. They each also have a large sealed circular inspection hatch, the screw on type, so I can check the conditions in there from time to time.
You decide what to do on your boat
;)
Klaus

[John Turpin]

If everything goes perfectly right and you never have a problem or a leak or a spill, you'll be fine.

[ahp]

Having looked into a number of old wood boats I may offer this advice; don't seal it up. If you do you will be creating a mushroom farm, that is, it will be a wonderful environment for rot.

Have your watertight compartment foreward, and aft too, if you can, but have a big removable watertight door in the bulkhead that you put in place when sailing, and remove when not sailing. Ventilation is a must.

[SNagy]

Thanks for the comments. Both compartments have inspection hatches, which will be left open for ventilation when not sailing. I am just trying to determine whether they should be left as bare wood or not.

[preston]

Originally posted by SNagy:
I am just trying to determine whether they should be left as bare wood or not.What argument is there in support of not painting?
Perhaps so the wood will swell faster when you put it in the water?

What did B&G recommend?

Without finding a really persuasive argument, I would paint.

Great looking boat, by the way!

Preston

[mmd]

Paint, most definitely. Or some other form of sealer/killer stuff. Raw wood is just an invitation to wood-munching critters.

[Ian McColgin]

I have seen lots of older boats (60+ years) where areas such as that were not painted. Provided they are not collecting moisture through condensation, standing water or drips, I see no harm in leaving it raw.

Were she mine, however, I'd give the area - whole inside of planking and frames for that matter - a coat of CPES if I could afford it.

I'd certainly not paint it with anything that is vapor proof.

This is one of those questions where anything works a little and nothing works all the time.