Worms and Stuff

[weedeater64]

If one chooses strip or cold molding as a contruction method will epoxy without any kind of fabric protect from wood eaters? Or will even epoxy and fabric do it?

[mike d.]

it should as long as all edges are sealed. the big concern is the wood exposed to water. if that is sealed the odds are you won't have a problem

[JayH]

My boat is cold molded with epoxy. I had a fiberglass skin everywhere underwater except the rudders. During my last haulout I found worms in the rudders. I don't know how they got past the epoxy or how fiberglass could keep them out, but the rudders are now skinned as well.

[S&S]

Strip planking will need antifoul just as much as a conventional hull would. CM should be better but as the wood cells are not saturated with epoxy you'd still need the paint.

Ours has no fabric and had no worm damage after 40 years ( but she was always kept painted.

[Delaminated]

Ship worms can get the wood if only resin covered. A fiberglass or copper skin will keep them at bay. They do not like ceder, teak, ironwood , swamp cypress and a well painted bottom. Get a nick and there on it. They just love white oak dead wood areas.

[CharlieCobra]

This and a nasty case of electrolysis eaten fasteners was why Oh joy was C-Flexed.

[weedeater64]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

This and a nasty case of electrolysis eaten fasteners was why Oh joy was C-Flexed.

What is C-flex?

[CalebD]

technology/cflex

[Vic de Beer]

C-Flex.... watch out for those "polyester mites"

[S&S]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

This and a nasty case of electrolysis eaten fasteners was why Oh joy was C-Flexed.

Was she iron fastened?

[CharlieCobra]

Nope, bronze. She has some galvanized steel carriage bolts holding her major timbers together and some of that has corroded badly and will be replaced.

[S&S]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Nope, bronze. She has some galvanized steel carriage bolts holding her major timbers together and some of that has corroded badly and will be replaced.

Mixed metals- bummer. Was that the reasoning behind the C-flex? I usually figure a seam splining job was leaking when I see a "glassed" bottom.

[CharlieCobra]

Yeah, that and the fear of worms since the PO was sailing the tropics. They did a very good job. The issue was with fresh water getting in from above. I'm gonna cure that...

[S&S]

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

Yeah, that and the fear of worms since the PO was sailing the tropics. They did a very good job. The issue was with fresh water getting in from above. I'm gonna cure that...

Looking good so far!