Fiberglassing wooden boats....

[BC Mike]

There have been a few comments about drying the hull, but it is possible to have them too dry. This area is like a desert especially in the summer time. Wood can get too dry if not covered, or not moist. I have seen a wood boat split right down the keel while sitting in the yard. There should have been a misting hose inside. Might not happen to all wood boats but it did to this one. We have a lot of old wood boats in the area, the are fine while sitting in the puddle, but not so good if left uncovered outside.
Michael

[delmarrey]

never monday once whispered in the wind:
Thanks for the tips on the Connie. I know wood boats love salt water, what happens when I move it to this fresh water pond I live on? I'm seeing alot of older woodies on the Great Lakes, how are they surviving?
There has to be some modern invention to "improve" a wood hull? or do you just live with rebuilding every XXX years?

There is a couple of ways to protect the woody's from rot.

The three main spots you have to watch are the bow stem and the deck above it, the corners of the transom, and a little forward of the transom around the bulwerk. These are the first places to go. This is where the fresh water (rain or washdowns) starts the rot. Submersion actually helps to protect the wood as long as the bugs stay out of the wood, and that's what paint is for. Even the saltwater boats have to keep an eye on these spots. Cold weather, like in Canada, slows down the rot process but the summers still come around. The surveyor, if you buy, should be checking these spots extensively.

In the good ole' days the river boat sailors use to put bags of rock salt in the bilges to protect the keel and frames.
And for the corners and seams up on deck, pouring white vingar around the seams on the hot days was the cure. Even around the deck house one has to watch the seams carefully.

The modern way of stopping rot and minor repairs is the use of thinned out epoxy with antimicrobial's added to the thin liquid, better known as GET ROT or the Rot Doctor formulas.

Here's a couple sites with interesting reading.

http://www.waltersforensic.com/artic...g/vol1-no9.htm

http://www.rotdoc.com/boat/Bmain.html

http://www.rotdoc.com/comments.html

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THe rock salt trick is still used. (at least by me). I also spread out a back of rock salt on the deck when the rains come. A couple of other rot prevention solutions are Borate solution if you can find it, and radiator antifreeze also works. On top of this, there is one rot preventer that is more effective and less costly than all of the others. VENTILATION. No matter what else you do, a poorly ventilated boat will rot. That includes lazerettes, engine compartments, and lockers. These areas must have an inlet, and outlet so the air can circulate. Follow these rules of thumb, and fiberglassing a wood hull will never be necessary.
Delmarrey is correct on all of the areas of concern.

[irwinsailor]

Well Pat? What have you decided on this big Chris*Craft? I have been looking at some of them that are for sale and you can get a lot of boat for not much money.

[never monday]

I'm planing on looking at her on the 27th.

[irwinsailor]

Remember take CASH with. Cash works wonders , except with you and that genset. But I'm still VERY happy with the deal!

[Matt Hager]

I restored a 1955 42' Criscraft Commander that lived in fresh water all its life. I was suprised at the small amount of rot after I got her out of the water. I used 5 gal buckets with towels hanging out of the them to keep her moist will out of the water. All the research I found at the time suggest not to glass her over. Bigggest problem was getting the screws out on the planks. If you would like more information feel free to e-mail me at motorcyclesandboats@earthlink.net.

Goodluck,

matt

p.s. the maritime museam in Newport News Virgina has all the old Criscraft records if you want to get copies of the original paper work!

[irwinsailor]

Pat, Please don't forget to give us a report! It would be nice to have a big old Chris*Craft in the family.