Can this be fixed?

[davethedog]

Hi all,

Been. looking at a possible next boat and it is a 1988 vintage blue water vessel and had a look around today a bit closer and saw some water damage to the woodwork. So, the question is how easy to repair this and make it look good?

Thanks and we like the boat but aware it needs a fair bit of work







DTD

[Sailmonkey]

That’s not trivial, but it’s also not rocket science. This isn’t the type of thing that should make you shy away from a boat that is otherwise in good shape.

[jt11791]

When verneer is damaged like that it cannot be fixed except by replacement. That said, it is possible to improve the look somewhat with fillers and stain. Most people just fix the leak and live with the "patina".

[Simi 60]

Fixes leak
Opens tin of white paint

[JPA Cate]

Hi, Dave,

Do you want to spend a few weekends sanding lightly and varnishing? or do you want to go sailing? [All we have left is time; we never know how much; and, you get to decide how you want to spend yours.]

If you're happy to have a go, I think you can make it better. It is partly if you want it to look new, or are satisfied with "better." Don't kid yourself it can be made better with oiling it or waxing it. Both of those allow green mold to grow. So it will be varnish, or as Simi 60 suggested, a shade of white paint, which will generally lighten the feel of the interior, and might be just the ticket. If you get the boat and want to varnish, don't try for bright, use matte, it hides defects better.

Depends on the history of the boat, of course, but you might wonder what other routine maintenance hasn't been done, and for how long.

Ann

[Mithril Bham]

Hard to tell for sure but it looks like you have port leaks. Common on old boats. Remove ports, re-calk and replace wood.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Fixes leak
Opens tin of white paint

^^ This. The addiction to varnish has always amused me. A little is nice as an accent, but all-wood interiors are dark and depressing to my eye.

[tkeithlu]

Ann got to the core of it. At the minimum, you'll have to fix the leaks (Opens roll of butyl tape). Then, what is the varnish worth to you (Opens can of white paint)? You have the option of replacing the wood with new veneer (Opens can of worms, Puts "Xs" on calender Saturday and Sunday sailing days).

I took a painted (ugly) small sailboat back to varnish (pretty) when I was a teenager. I had to refinish it every year thereafter.

[zeehag]

rebed those windows/ portlights and fix wood with oiling of wood. what's the biggie if you like the boat..is cosmetic. after the rebedding of the windows no one before you seems to have been able to figure out.

[svfinlandia]

Originally Posted by Mithril Bham

Hard to tell for sure but it looks like you have port leaks. Common on old boats. Remove ports, re-calk and replace wood.

On my old (1983) Nauticat, this was not caused by port leaks, but by condensation formed on the inside of the windows and running down on the wood below. A little light sanding, some stain and then varnish cured the problem.

Al, S/V Finlandia

[carlosproa]

If you are not too handy, I would just fill the voids of the plywood, sand smooth and then epoxy. Sand again for grip and base coat and paint white

[Manateeman]

We agree with Finlandia. Might not be a leak but condensation. Blast it with a hose and see if it’s really a leak. You can buy thin veneers and epoxy them but you might be back to the same old problem after a few years.
The manatee crew.

[sinnerman]

Fix the leaks as already mentioned. Butyl or 3M 4000 sealant-adhesive to bed/ bond the ports. I would lean towards 3M 4000 unless ports are really well "clamped" to the bulkheads.

If core wood (structural) is rotted it will need to be replaced or backed up with thickened epoxy resin/ wood pieces. This can be a big chore.

For inside beauty, you can replace the wood - or- glue a veneer to it, since most marine interior cabinetry plywood is just that: plywood with a nice looking veneer ((thin sheet) of teak/ mahogany bonded to it.

Good sized lumber yards sell the veneer. It is usually attached with waterproof carpenter's glue.

My chart table was full of holes from the previous owner's adventures of installing electronics. It looked like swiss cheese. (he must have received a jig saw for father's day...).

I filled in the holes with plywood and wood filler then finished the outside with a piece of 1/8 TEAK plywood. (again at a good sized lumber yard. In Houston we have one called "Houston Hardwoods"...)

I used gorilla glue (contact) to bond it . Finished with stain and teak oil . The end result was amazing.

Cheers

[Clivevon]

This is water damage. If caused by condensation is just cosmetic & an easy fix. If caused by leaking windows which is very likely, you have a bigger problem. Windows need re bedding (in my boat meant all new frames also) & cabin balsawood core very possibly rotted so structurally weakened. That is worst case scenario. You wont know until you take the frames out.
All boats have issues. Be glad this one is obvious. Definite negotiating point but on its own would not cause me to walk away.

[Clivevon]

Also put a moisture meter on the side decks outside those windows just to check the deck core isnt rotted in that area if it is a leak. Worth checking.