Sheathing Pt Deux - Purists do not enter )
Asking for a friend...
This is hail Mary for a big old wooden boat that has sat on the dry for many years. Some planking needs to be done around the tightest curves, of course, where else, and it needs all the paint + ??? + ??? sanded off before (insert whiz bang epoxy coating sealant) is applied.
THE PROBLEM... as we all know, is that water in that inevitably gets into the bilge one way or another, is going to get absorbed by the 1inch Iroca wood planking which will swell. At that point, the (non pitch tar) coating and paint will inevitably fail, crack and leak.
After reading this thread:
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...62-Carvel-Hull
I agree with those that conclude it wont remain stuck on an older boat like this for long. There are also issues about sealing it around the rusted steel keel plate that would inevitably require removing the keel ballast and finding goodness knows what horrors that would require addressing in order for the sheathing to be watertight (not happening)
I also agree that the planking should just be redone properly as the best course, BUT there are severe logistical problems that realistically only provide for 30-60 days of full time work by this friend in somewhat limited circumstances. The boat has potential for the right buyer, but is most likely going to be scrapped despite the considerable amounts spent on her by the previous owner years ago.
So, my, eh hem friend, is considering "creative" sheathing the hull to get some use out of her for a season or two, better than nothing, and an adventure in wood working, while cruising and getting the rest of the boat operational and serviced (a different discussion)
Option Une:
Replace the planks, apply minimal antifoul, do a season in the water to soak the wood, haul out somewhere mors cost effective next winter, sand again, and apply whizz bang products to the wet expanded wood so they do not crack off. Put boat back in water and live on it while cruising or sell to next fool needing wood education after a couple of seasons.
Option Deux:
Assuming the hull can be sanded to good clean wood at the keel to get a good bond, and assuming that acres of resin soaked fiberglass can be propped up in place against gravity to bond to the hull (some parts of the hull are horizontal), the plan would be to fix the planking"expediently", shaeth and put it in the water for the summer and enter the mental state of denial while enjoying sun, babes, islands and cocktails.
This option would be great to "fix" the state of the hull if the inside surfaces could be treated to prevent water absorbtion, but how realistic is that, particularly in the bilge under the engine. If this could be pulled off, it would make pressure washing and below waterline problems minimal. It would be an ideal solution
Option Trois:
Forget about wood boats, buy a plastic eyesore less than half this boats length, and enter the mental state of regret and depression with no babes or cocktails..
As I said, this thread is not for purists, and yes my friend is challenged as a result of the world going hell in a covid hand basket (made of wood I note)
So think EXPEDIENT, and lets hear it !
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Originally Posted by wizbang 13
