Avoiding rot

[saltydingo]

First year wooden boat owner and the rain has been pouring. I know that freshwater that leaks into the hull causes rot, and quick...so how to avoid it?

I've been told that some guys open up the seacocks and let the hull fill up with salt water once a month and then pump it out. I really do not want to do that.

Should I drop a bunch of store bought salt into the hull?

What is the water temp at which freshwater does not cause rot?

Please tell me the secrets.

[skuthorp]

How big? Can you tarp it? There's been discussion on this before, try a search.

[Bob Smalser]

Mold and fungus need 55 degrees or higher, stagnant air, moisture, no UV exposure, and a substrate to live and feed on that doesn't break down their cell walls.

Remove one or more conditions to deter the mold.

High execrative content heartwood is the first line of defense.

Red lead, copper napthenate or copper bottom paint used ILO Red Lead on the raw wood is the second line of defense.

Rock salt on shelves between the hull frames was an old tertiary deterrence...today borate salts in various applications are more commonly used.

If you can't dry the boat out yet, then air the boat out. You can install 12v fans between any watertight bulkheads or insure there is air flow between non-watertight bulkheads.

[ 01-10-2005, 10:43 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[Dave Hadfield]

The rot will occur where the rain water is leaking in -- under the deck covering, cabin roof covering, and around the deck fittings. It's not the lower hull that feels it worst, it's the higher-up parts.

If you don't want to have to deal with replacing the upper structure of the boat in the future, the deck and all its fittings must be waterproof.

A house is only as good as its roof.

If there are leaks and the boat is in the water, have a good fitted cover made. It's always handy for the off-season, if there is one where you live. Then later, when you can get the time and money organized, have the boat hauled, strip off what leaks, and fix it so it doesn't.

Time is of the essence here. If you get rot happening at the deck/cabin sidewall joint, or the deck/topsides joint, it's major.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Buy a fibreglass boat. ;)

[Mike Vogdes]

Turn the boat upside down.