"Dry" Wooden Boat Resurrection

[Ben M-P]

While prowling around looking for a boat I found this:
For Sale - 40' Mariner

I am just wondering how much and what work would need to be done on the hull alone?



From what I can see I was guessing it needed much of the dead wood in the keel replaced, the planking re-calked as a start.

I'm pretty sure that I don't want to be the one doing it but am wondering nonetheless.

[SkiprJohn]

I owned a Mariner 35 that had oak frames and mahogany planking. Great sailing and liveaboard for other than tropical waters. Don't just concentrate on the framing and planking but look at the cockpit, cabin sides and bulkheads and decking which was made of plywood. Check for dry rot. If they are solid then the boat might be worth it as a project. Check the stern where the name is carved because on some of them the transome was plywood and started delaminating.
I loved my Mariner. It had a lot of great qualities.
kind regards,

[David_Old_Jersey]

I reckon about a week, less if you start before lunch

Hope that helps

[SkiprJohn]

Yes, it'll take about a week to check everything thoroughly. Much of the wood planking and framing may not need as much work as you think but caulking and serving might be a long project. Once done the the wood on the hull will swell when placed in the water and many of the cracks will disappear.
When launching have a lot of pumps on hand until the wood swells enough to keep all the sea water out.
Good luck.

[Ben M-P]

How does one go about splashing a boat like this (should the hull be wet down before painting etc?

[chris07732]

Originally Posted by Ben M-P

How does one go about splashing a boat like this (should the hull be wet down before painting etc?

Sprinkler garden hose snaked throughout the interior spraying water on the inside to swell the hull prior to launch (after caulking and painting). You'll still need external pumps though, including a gas powered pump in case you lose electric. Will take several days to swell and the leaking to slow to where your bilge pumps can handle things.

[tager]

Terrifying. Stay away.

[WillJacocks]

Find somebody with a rarely used swimming pool big enough to hold it.

[sabray]

You paint it before wetting the hull use soft seem compound. We used to lay burlap on the ground. Under the boat and soak it constantly. you launch at the end of the day and let the boat hang in the slings overnight. Have lots if dry sawdust at hand. You nail a bucket to the end of a pole 1/2 fill it with sawdust and force it under water near where the leaks are. Shake the stuff out below water. Hopefully it starts blocking up the leaks.

[GordMay]

For some excellent information on wooden hulls, see the 54 page PDF,
USCG NVIC 7-95
“Guidance on Inspection, Repair and Maintenance of Wooden Hulls”
➥ http://uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/pdf/1995/n7-95.pdf

[S/V Antares]

My wife and I spiled 18 planks, 14 fram members shelf, clamp and deck along with 2000, 100 mm copper rivits on a 42 footer. It took 8 months with a helper 16 hr, 7 days a week. 32 bottles of rum of Rum. It was the greatest experience we ever had that we will NEVER do again.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by tager

Terrifying. Stay away.

Hate to say this, but "bonfire" springs to mind. I think I would rather buy Ferro over this one.

Pete

[Ben M-P]

Thanks for the info (especially the pdf)

[Mark Johnson]

I started out in the early 70s rebuilding planked wooden boats. This one would take all of your money & the rest of your life! IMO...

Even a bare "but perfect" fiberglass hull, is only a SMALL fraction of a fully outfitted sailboat, ready for sea.

Mark

[capnorv]

There's nothing cozier than a good wooden boat! That said, I've never had the commitment to buy one. GOOD LUCK, She looks like she needs a good home Time and diligence that's what it takes.