Wooden Boats in the South

[Marty Hall]

Looking for info on wooden boat builders in the South

[Bill Huson]

Pros or garage hackers like me? I'm in eastern North Carolina, New Bern.

[Marty Hall]

Hi Bill ,
I'm thinking about buying a wood sailboat.I have always owned fiberglass boats and I have a 1965 32 ft Islander right now I'm trying to sell .I here nightmares about wood boats in the South.

[Bill Huson]

Ah, big boat. I have small boats, largest 23' outboard, and none stay in the water since in my burg bottom paint won't make it through a season. In my fleet are wood, fiberglass, and aluminum. The AL boat is near zero maintenance, FG boat requires cleaning a lot - funky swamp water stains it, and the wood boats get the annual sand & varnish deal.

You might try a repost with a direct question, like what do I need to do to keep a wood boat solid in Mudbog Corner, South Cakalaki - or where ever you are.

[Baja Mike]

I have had 4 wood boats over 27' in the South (Texas, Lousiana and Florida). I love wood boats but they are a trial to stay ahead of the Teredo Worms or Ship Worms, they are the primary enemy (not to mention dry rot, wet rot, mold, UV dammage, maintaing the seam caulking, etc. etc.). Bottom paint has to be maintained meticulously and bottoms must be inspected religously ..... any underwater ding or scar through the paint is an invitation for them ...... There are some very good wooden boat builders in South Lousisiana and still some decent cypress to be had .... me personally will not own another wooden boat other than cold molded glass over marine plywood which is what I have now ...... Good Ruck ...

[xsboats]

I'm building wooden boats here in St. Augustine, Fl., I know of at least 3 other pro wooden boat builders still in business nearby. Times are tough and many are working on not boat related projects .

[chuckt]

These guys near Charleston build some neat stuff. www.seaislandboatworks.com They built the Spirit of South Carolina which is a fair size schooner.

[MiddleAgesMan]

....I here nightmares about wood boats in the South.

The basis of those nightmares is solid.

Traditional wooden boats need constant maintenance in the tropics and sub-tropics. There was no shortage of boats whose owners sailed them south then went back north, returning 6 months later to find their boats needed more work than they could do or afford.

I used to know a guy in St. Augustine who made a good living scouring the US south and the islands for wooden yachts in bad shape. There was no shortage of them. He would buy one, get it up north whatever way he could, restore it and then sell it in the New England area.

Modern wood-composite changes the equation, though, but you still face the dreaded teredo if your underwater sealer/paint is breeched.

[bamamick]

What kind of boats? I have a Dragon, a 210, a Fish class, and a Penguin. All wood, and of course, all need work from time to time. I am lucky enough to live near someone who does good work in wood (Tom Copeman and Donnie Brennan at Diversified Marine in Mobile). They take good care of my stuff for me (when I can afford it).

There are some beautiful wooden boats along the Gulf Coast, but seriously, when things start to go badly down here they go badly in a hurry. You must stay on top of things or the next thing you know you have some major work ahead of you, or a major yard bill.

You aren't going to find a ton of wood along the northern Gulf Coast, but there are some very nice boats and if you are willing to go the extra mile there's nothing wrong with wood.

Mickey Lake

[chuckt]

I didn't think about it but there are lots of wooden work boats down here (shrimpers mainly) that are very old, are used hard, and stay in the water a long time. I doubt very much that they get pulled every year. So clearly it can be done.

[MiddleAgesMan]

The shrimp boats in my area tend to be fiberglass, glass over wood, or steel. There are rotting hulks of old wooden ones lining the edges of the creeks.

[Reynard38]

Though I'd love to own a original Herreshoff Alerion or similar, my search for a bigger boat will be classic glass (with a lot of wood trim).
The guy on here that converted an old Pearson to a knockabout has the best solution for a southern sailer in need of a classic looking boat, unless you can afford the astronomical cost of a cold molded Alerion.

[xsboats]

These guys near Charleston build some neat stuff. www.seaislandboatworks.com They built the Spirit of South Carolina which is a fair size schooner.

Mark and his crew are the best around. I had the pleasure of working with them on the "Spirit of South Carolina" build.

[purri]

FWIW I live in a temperate (sub tropical) climate 32S (southern hemisphere). Maintenance is regular (every 15 months) but not onerous as antifoul compounds and topside finishes have improved vastly, esp over the last decade. The maxim applies "if you don't maintain it you lose it".

[Tom Freeman]

Peaceful spent 70 years on the Tennessee River before coming to us, so it can be done.

[P.L.Lenihan]

These guys near Charleston build some neat stuff. www.seaislandboatworks.com They built the Spirit of South Carolina which is a fair size schooner.

I just love the way they did this Redwing 34!

[xsboats]

She was done while SeaIsland was building a tallship, a 55ft catamaran, and a 34 ft catamaran. Mark was just written up in Southwinds, the Southeast's sailing magazine about the diversity and quality in his work. It took several pizzas and a keg of beer to roll the Redwing over. SeaIsland's hull turning parties are quite the social event in Mount Pleasant.

I just love the way they did this Redwing 34!

[bamamick]

The shrimp boats in my area tend to be fiberglass, glass over wood, or steel. There are rotting hulks of old wooden ones lining the edges of the creeks.

A lot of shrimpers are going back to wood because of how rough these other boats are on the knees.

Mickey Lake

[chuckt]

Here is a typical Southern shrimp boat. This one is based in Edisto--one of my favorite coastal locations. A beautiful and quiet family beach. Not many such beaches are left in the South. You can see these boats dragging their nets just off the beach and, if you go under, you can hear their props swishing and engines thumping. WHen I was a kid I thought that was pretty neat.


Hey xs--tell me which issue of Southwinds that was. I want to see the article. The thought has crossed my mind to call Mark when I get to the point of making the new sternpost for my Concordia I am restoring. I might could use his advice on some other things as well.

[xsboats]

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/cmeke0870/Edisto20Shrimp20Boat20DSC_9487crop12x18.jpg[/IMG]

Mark is the June centerfold in Southwinds Magazine. [HA,HA,HA]

[chuckt]

I found it XS--thanks.

Here is a pic of the fleet of shrimp boats in Charleston. Every time I drive by them I wonder how the land owners can afford to leave this land in service to the fleet. I'm sure they could make tons more money developing it. The location is in the middle of a very valuable and very desirable area.

[xsboats]

The photo is of Shem Creek, home of Sea Island Boatworks. They originally were the first place on the starboard side , coming in, but have moved inland about a half mile. It is hard to transit Shem Creek without seeing at least one of their creations.

I found it XS--thanks.

Here is a pic of the fleet of shrimp boats in Charleston. Every time I drive by them I wonder how the land owners can afford to leave this land in service to the fleet. I'm sure they could make tons more money developing it. The location is in the middle of a very valuable and very desirable area.

[Tagamor]

Fixing to pull our woody and paint the bottom ourselves. We need someone who knows about wooden hulls to take a look at the hull. Last bottom job done in Yorktown, VA about 18 ago. We cruised her down and docked her here in Daytona Beach area last November. Had two bottom cleaning done and now is the time to paint her. We bought the same paint used on the previous job, and are pretty sure we can do the job (never done it before) but will need an experienced eye to look at her. The DIY Yard in Ponce Inlet will pull us out.

[xsboats]

Give me a call. My number is on the contact page of my website, wwwdotseaworthysolutionsdotnet , Scott

Fixing to pull our woody and paint the bottom ourselves. We need someone who knows about wooden hulls to take a look at the hull. Last bottom job done in Yorktown, VA about 18 ago. We cruised her down and docked her here in Daytona Beach area last November. Had two bottom cleaning done and now is the time to paint her. We bought the same paint used on the previous job, and are pretty sure we can do the job (never done it before) but will need an experienced eye to look at her. The DIY Yard in Ponce Inlet will pull us out.