Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailor

[BiggieSmallBoat]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Yeah, I still might go either way on this. It does sound like a project I would really enjoy -- building the boat from scratch. But it's also a pretty big investment in my most precious resource right now: time.

SHC -- you mean gluing in some cross-pieces somewhat near the centerline (keelson/stem), but with enough room to fit the new wood, and then just taking a saw to it to cut out the old wood? I figured I would also leave the transom in place and put the new one ontop of it -- so long as the angle still permits me to pull it off the mold. It'll make the boat 1/2" longer, but it's also going to be marginally wider/deeper anyway, and what's the difference.

[BiggieSmallBoat]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Could I strip plank over an existing hull? I can't see why not, but I might be missing something obvious/dumb. Or maybe the curves are too challenging for a strip plank?

It might be hard to clamp the strips in place though given that it's a solid hull and not just a frame.

[johngsandusky]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
You can strip or cold mold over an existing hull, it's been done.
But if yours isn't noticeably flimsy, I might patch the glass where necessary and put it into use.

[BiggieSmallBoat]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
I did some more drilling today, and found that in some sections on the bottom of the boat, the outer layer is nearly 0.4-0.5" separated from the next layer. I don't know if I want to go through the efforts of injecting epoxy hoping to fill these voids and being left with a boat, after a good amount of work, of questionable longevity.

I think if I'm going to invest time, I want to invest time in something that at the end of, I can be both proud of and and confident that it is solidly constructed, and not just waiting to reveal new cracks and delaminations.

I'll draw up some ideas on how I might try to use the boat as a male mold for a new strip planked boat and report back here with a advice/questions on the plan.

[johngsandusky]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Before using this as a mold, I would be sure that it has the hull shape I want.

[BiggieSmallBoat]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Honestly, I don't know a lot about hull shapes for a boat this size. If I'm using it as a mold though, I'd want to make the changes discussed earlier in the thread. Beef up the keelson and add provisions for a box and mast step forward.

[pez_leon]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Sorry to see about the damage to your boat, and thanks for sharing details and pictures. I personally was surprised to see so much hidden damage.

Honestly, I don't know a lot about hull shapes for a boat this size.

Respectfully, this is not a great reason to use this particular boat as a mold, with or without changes. Building a boat is such a commitment that it's worth spending time and/or money to buy confidence that you'll end up with something useful. There are so many great designs.

Keep us posted!

- James

[ulav8r]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
Probably cheaper to buy plans for a boat that meets your needs than to get this one into condition to be used as a mold. Make a list of what you want, then ask in the design forum for help in selecting the right plan.

[BiggieSmallBoat]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
A quick update to this old thread, I've decided I'll inject the laminate with epoxy in places the veneers have de-laminated internally. This obviously isn't a propper fix, but I'm thinking it will give the boat a decade of light use without any trouble.

Once that is done, I'll then fix up the minor damage to the rub rail, and re-glass the keel line and transom with fiberglass tape -- the previous owner did a poor job of this and did not completely wet-out the glass, so I'll fist remove his work. I'll then slap some paint on the outside and probably the inside and call it done, leaving it as a row boat.

[Toxophilite]

Re: Converting this small wooden boat into a casual sailobr />
I think that's the best thing. Fix it to be basically usable and if you get a couple years out of it you will have more than gotten your money's worth. Buy a small fixer upper actual sailboat if you want a project that will sail well.