Oil unpainted hull for long drive?

[guillemot]

Hi all,

It's been several years since my last post here. I'm glad to see so many familiar names still on the forum! Since my last visit I've almost completed graduate school, renovated an old house, and gotten married. The one thing that isn't done is finish my Swampscott Dory...

The hull is built but unpainted. The inwales are in, as are some temporary thwarts. The challenge: driving from Michigan to the new home in New Hampshire next Wednesday. Should I paint the hull before I go? I'm concerned about the possibility of rain (with last week's weather and all) and was thinking about ragging on something to seal it up just in case. I've got a gallon of raw linseed oil. The plan is to paint the hull white. This needs to be a quick job, either way.

Suggestions appreciated!!

thanks,
Jeff

[TMny]

Depending on the mix , linseed can be a good base for , or destroy a subsequent coating.
I strongly suggest you DO apply the initial layer (at least!) of whatever coating you plan to employ. Dry sunny weather can destroy unfinished wood [sometimes even finished wood], and the drying effect of trailering/trucking is amplified by the apparent wind. Prep for the first coating can bear a return....

[Concordia...41]

Welcome back Jeff -

What are you talking about? Two days with travel and stops?

Assuming any tender edges - ply, veneer trim or such is epoxyed, I'd leave it alone - vs slathering something on that you either don't need or worse yet will have to sand off.

That'll be .02 cents please

[Don Kurylko]

Hi Jeff,

Go to the hardware store and buy a roll of black plastic. Wrap the boat good and tight and Bob’s your uncle! It’s the fast moving air at highway speeds that will do the most damage to a wooden boat. The plastic wrap will offer the best protection at a very reasonable price and minimum effort. I once saw a new, freshly painted, plank-on-frame Whitehall that traveled across Canada uncovered on a roof rack and it had dried out so badly that I don’t think it ever recovered. It was tragic!

Don

[Gary E]

The challenge: driving from Michigan to the new home in New Hampshire next Wednesday. Should I paint the hull before I go?

No... just go.. it's not like your going for a long ride...
Cover it with a plastic or canvas tarp if you must.

[guillemot]

Ok, well those suggestions about run the gamut!

Two days, one overnight stop.

It's pine over tamarack with some oak. No plywood.

Planning to paint with Kirby's oil based. Can I just rub raw linseed oil on with a rag? Think it'll dry enough in a week to just roll back east without every bug on the road sticking to it permenantly?

It's hot and humid here so wrapping in a black tarp seems a bit risky. Had a bit of checking in the transom last summer when I did exactly that in the backyard for a few days. Set it under a tarp. Then it rained. Then it cooked when the sun came back out. I regret that choice and will undoubtedly be posting questions about how to deal with that problem once construction resumes.

thanks,
Jeff

[pipefitter]

White polytarp would probably be the best bet. It will have grommets so that you can secure it tightly so it doesn't shred to pieces at highway speeds.

[pcford]

Boat being delivered by a transport company usually are wrapped with white shrink wrap.

Definitely need to do something. Know of a boat which split a plank because of riding in a 60 mph wind in California.

[Don Kurylko]

It won't cook at highway speeds. No problem for a two day trip. Just don't store it all wrapped up for any length of time in direct sunlight.

[Gary E]

Know of a boat which split a plank because of riding in a 60 mph wind in California.

couldnt be because they hit a bump... could it??

How many thousands of boats are towed at 60mph PLUS ??? with NO PEOBLEM

[Greg Nolan]

Raw linseed oil can take a very long time to cure, and so may not be the best material to use for what is, in effect, a primer.

Since you are planning to use Kirby's, why not call and ask them?

[outofthenorm]

Jeff, since the plan is to paint the boat anyway, you could just slap on a coat or two of good oil-based primer. Dries fast and would be enough to provide protection for a trip of that length. Doesn't matter if it's rough - you're going to be sanding it all a few times before you paint anyway.

- Norm

[Concordia...41]

I agree, the replies run the gamut. Norm's advice is probably best. Go ahead and paint the darn thing.

If I get a second vote, I'd rule against any kind of tarp because it can't help but rub / beat / chafe against the hull.

[Charles Burgess]

This is no different than moving a large piece of wooden furniture. I would recommend transporting it unpainted, unside down. Cover the hull with a soft blanket (felt is good and cheap, similar to funiture pads), cover that with painter's dropcloth (canvas or plastic), then cover the whole thing with a tarp that is well tied down.

The soft blanket prevents chaffing and insulates the hull from direct heat from the sun, and the painter's dropcloth keeps the tarp from rubbing through the blanket. Silver colored tarps are available and would be the best to keep heat to a minimum.

Another alternative is simply rent a U-Haul type of truck large enough to fit your boat inside.