Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 19-06-2017, 10:20   #16
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 17
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

I have a 14' 1954 Penn Yan Swift. It is all wood. But the exterior is covered with canvas. That sticks to wood better than fiberglass, and looks really nice.
bourque is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 10:23   #17
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Saint Lucie county FLa
Boat: 35' Pearson sloop
Posts: 389
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Just my opinion, but I would look for a nice older glass hull, in the late 60s and seventies, they were built like tanks. They will still be around when the earth falls into the sun ☀️. They don't change much except they keep hardening. Then you can build what you want from there.
lesterbutch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 10:30   #18
Registered User
 
Cadence's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Boat: None,build the one shown of glass, had many from 6' to 48'.
Posts: 10,206
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by bourque View Post
I have a 14' 1954 Penn Yan Swift. It is all wood. But the exterior is covered with canvas. That sticks to wood better than fiberglass, and looks really nice.
A Penn Yan doesn't nee to soak up. We glassed one and it worked fine. Added some weight however over the canvas. I have a suspicion the OP is speaking of a planked hull and probably larger.
Cadence is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 11:12   #19
Registered User
 
Scout 30's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Boat: Scout 30
Posts: 3,112
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by bourque View Post
I have a 14' 1954 Penn Yan Swift. It is all wood. But the exterior is covered with canvas. That sticks to wood better than fiberglass, and looks really nice.
I think that we should have a rule that when you talk about your boat you have to include a picture. Mainly because I like looking at pictures of boats.
Scout 30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 12:00   #20
Marine Service Provider
 
Steadman Uhlich's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,103
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout 30 View Post
I think that we should have a rule that when you talk about your boat you have to include a picture. Mainly because I like looking at pictures of boats.
Steadman Uhlich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 14:27   #21
Registered User
 
buzzstar's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ashore in So Calif.
Boat: No more boat (my medical, not the boat's)
Posts: 1,453
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Originally Posted by Scout 30 View Post
I think that we should have a rule that when you talk about your boat you have to include a picture. Mainly because I like looking at pictures of boats.


More bureaucracy, even if the original poster of the thought had a good reason and was tongue in cheek. At least one responder liked the idea.
__________________
"Old California"
buzzstar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 14:29   #22
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 25
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Epoxy coated splines between the planks and epoxy coating the bare hull has been used up here on Lake Ontario very successfully on several old R boats. There may be more to it but I do know its doable but very labor intensive. Hope this helps
wmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 14:34   #23
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Hi ,
We have successfully sheathed probably 40 or 50 timber boats in glass and epoxy since the mid 80s . Biggest being the K class (mini J ) Cambria . Boat needs to be stripped to bare dried out and either splined or the seams filled with epoxy . Also as if possible the inside of the planking needs to be treated with a thinned epoxy if possible . We use one here called Everdure .

The boat can then be painted with a 2 part paint system , so looks great . It is an expensive exercise but done correctly will really add strength and longevity to the structure .
nrwian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 15:24   #24
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New Zealand
Boat: Moana 33
Posts: 1,105
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by bailsout View Post
Steady Hand, I find that success story hard to believe of a single planked hull. Maybe a double or triple. Ply for sure. Or the Fiberglass hull is now just insulated with wood.
Yes, Steady Hand, this is quite a story and deserves more explanation - do you know how she was built, and perhaps the reason/s for the sheathing being successful, when for most traditionally-built boats this is a death-knell?
NevisDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 17:33   #25
Marine Service Provider

Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 321
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

In my opinion, this is only worth doing if the boat's equipment is in excellent, near new, condition. so that you will not spend a lot of time and money and still have a 'project boat" The bible for this work is "Covering Wooden Boats with Fiberglass" by the late Allan H. Vaitses, published by International Marine in 1989. Mr. Vaitses recommended no reliance on adhesive bond between wood and fiberglass, regardless of the resin type, and instead relied on mechanical fastening using stainless steel staples, applied with an air-hammer while the first layer of fiberglass was still curing. I used a modified version, with stainless screws into marine plywood, many years ago, and it held up very well. This little book is a great read for the nautically obsessed, even if at the end of it you decide against covering your wooden boat with fiberglass..

Good luck

John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Group.
JOHNMARDALL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 18:40   #26
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 686
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dody View Post
Hi,

the trouble is, that your hull has been in contact with saltwater and the salt cristals are in the wood. Whatever you do you will always attract humidity, the wood will swell and the epoxy will break, facilitating more water to find its way in and speeding up the process where rot develops and finally destroys the whole boat.

The most successful way out is to laminate 1 or several layers of veneer or plywood (depending on the size of the boat) in strips of 14 cm (again depends on the shape and size of the boat) in a 45 degree angle to the planks on the outside of the hull. Once this is done you've got a strong and solid barrier on which you can laminate with epoxy and fibreglass to make the whole thing strong and watertight.

Important: do not use Polyester for this, but go for epoxy!!!

I have to face this whole process on my boat at the moment, as after 57 years the nails between the planks and frames are giving up, fair enough. My boat was built like this from the beginning, only trouble is that they used polyester instead of epoxy, so, actually fortunately, the whole stuff comes off easily. A process you don't have to go through.

As I'm quite heavy with 22 Tons and will sail to some very remote areas, I've decided to go for 3 layers in 6 mm plywood (each layer crossing the one before) and 3 layers of fibreglass with epoxy plus, at least from bow to stern under water another with kevlar or carbon (got to look into these two materials to make sure I get it right).

To understand what and how I mean this, there exists a little film. It's unfortunately in german, but it shows the process and how it can be done. You can find this film here: Furnier statt Leichenhemd

Also, to better understand it, you can download the book (for free) from the Gourgeon Brothers about wooden boatbuilding in epoxy: http://www.westsystem.com/the-gougeon-brothers-on-boat-construction

Good luck and fair winds
Dody
In the 1980's I regularly passed an old wooden fishing boat in Darwin. I believe the vessel was of WW2 vintage and built of Australian hardwood - probably spotted gum. The boat was about 50 ft long. It sat on the hard for a few years as I recall and all paint was stripped/sanded off and caulking machined out. The timber shrank and many cracks appeared over time. Finally, the caulking gaps and the cracks were filled , with (I assume) epoxy fillers. I assume any rot was removed and any rusting bolts. The owners then laminated thin plywood strips (of varying width) over all the hull. At least two crossing layers. All with epoxy and copper nails. The entire boat was then glassed (epoxy) and then it was tarted up and set off to work. I believe it was used as a shark catching boat for some time. last time I was in Darwin the boat was in the "Duck Pond" - commercial fishing marina.
This would have been an expensive process taking a lot of drying out time (Darwin can be very humid). Material costs would also have been high, but the owners must have known just what they were doing. The finished product did look good though as timber always fairs up nicely.

Another wooden boat ( a confiscated Asian poaching fishing vessel) was purchased at auction by a well known local (he become Commodore of the best yacht club in the world - Dinah Beach). This vessel was long and narrow with a high bow. A distinctive style. He dried out the vessel , stripped the paint and (I understand) replaced all the iron bolts used by the traditional builders. The caulking was also removed. I believe he then epoxy primed all the timbers and the caulking grooves. and painted the whole lot with modern polyurethane paints. The caulking grooves were pumped with a black Sikaflex product (I believe). The hull looked distinctive and "spiffy"- very graceful. The deck housing was replaced with a very large plywood structure which totally mismatched the style of the hull. - like a Rolls Royce radiator on a VW beetle. This total process was time consuming and he named the vessel "Long Run" as in it took ages to complete.
billgewater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 20:15   #27
Registered User
 
Capt Phil's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: Prior boats: Transpac 49; DeFever 54
Posts: 2,874
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

My wife talked me into buying a mahogany planked Chris craft runabout of about 1955 vintage. We had sold our DeFever and moved ashore and she felt I needed a project.
Paid $600 for it including trailer, after getting all the hardware off her and sanding for hours,
I applied Wests Penetrating Epoxy below the waterline and 6 coats of spar varnish above the waterline. Turned her over and sold it and trailer for $1500!
Mind you the windscreen Hardware was worth about $4000!
Who says I'm stupid! Phil
Capt Phil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 21:45   #28
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by earthmover View Post
I would like to re-furbish an old wooden boat. I don't want the hassle of pre-soaking in water each season so the planks expand to seal it. I want to coat it in resin of some type...
Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 21:52   #29
Registered User

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon to Alaska
Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG
Posts: 3,623
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

A lot of old wood boats have fiberglass over the original planking. Professionally done, it can last as long as the wood stays dry. Wet bilges, deck leaks, hose leaks will kill it. Also the hull is much heavier than it's original design.
Lepke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-06-2017, 22:17   #30
Marine Service Provider
 
Steadman Uhlich's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,103
Re: Waterproofing an old wooden sailboat with epoxy or fibreglass

Quote:
Originally Posted by NevisDog View Post
Yes, Steady Hand, this is quite a story and deserves more explanation - do you know how she was built, and perhaps the reason/s for the sheathing being successful, when for most traditionally-built boats this is a death-knell?
Hello.

I don't have more info on the boat.
I just looked and could not find it in my threads or files/notes.
It was for sale.
Beautiful dark blue hull. Cruised the USA East coast. I seem to recall it was a NY 40. But I have looked at literally thousands of boats in the last few years, so don't know if that was the model or not, but 90% sure, if my memory serves.

I looked at it online several times, which is why it sticks in my mind and read about it in the sale listing. It was on Yachtworld listing about 2015.
It was a very nice looking boat.
All I recall about the hull was that it had been professionally sheathed in fiberglass by a yard in the mid 1970s as I recall.

And I recall the owners had owned it for many years and cruised it each year up and down the East Coast. It had nice canvas (tan?) and very nicely maintained deck with some nice cast deck hardware as I recall.

I wish I could show it to you now. I liked what I saw. Very classy looking boat (full keel).
Steadman Uhlich is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
boat, epoxy, sail, sailboat, water

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sailboat Bathroom Waterproofing fishbait58 Plumbing Systems and Fixtures 3 28-06-2015 01:03
Pool waterproofing with poly vs. epoxy mvoltin Construction, Maintenance & Refit 1 20-05-2015 16:10
Epoxy Sheath for an Old Wooden Sailboat Honey Ryder Construction, Maintenance & Refit 23 15-02-2012 10:01
very old wooden sailboat....photo! otherthan Monohull Sailboats 49 03-04-2011 16:35
temp repair to steel hull using epoxy & fibreglass matting? conachair Construction, Maintenance & Refit 3 17-01-2009 12:34

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 13:15.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.