Since most of us own production boats, we don't have to do a lot of varnishing. In fact external wood is disappearing off production boats so fast you would think the boat designers were part of the 'save the rainforest' gang. Is this a good thing? How do you feel about the tradeoff between the beauty of wood and the maintenance? Do you enjoy varnishing? Would you prefer no wood at all, just a llittle wood trim, heavy accents or an entirely wood boat if you had the time. Share your wooden views and be sure to vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Gary Wyngarden)
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Not a lot of value on the exterior.
I personally like to look a a boat with wood on the exterior but would not own one. I see very little value on exterior wood with the obvious exception of the beauty. The interior in a different story. Fiberglass interiors may be functional but lack the feeling and warmth that a nicely finished interior provides. The interior wood is quite easy to keep looking nice and also provide sound absorbtion along with the upolstered portions. If you are like us, we live on our boat most of weekends during the year. I want to make it look and feel like my first/second home.
I personally like to look a a boat with wood on the exterior but would not own one. I see very little value on exterior wood with the obvious exception of the beauty. The interior in a different story. Fiberglass interiors may be functional but lack the feeling and warmth that a nicely finished interior provides. The interior wood is quite easy to keep looking nice and also provide sound absorbtion along with the upolstered portions. If you are like us, we live on our boat most of weekends during the year. I want to make it look and feel like my first/second home.
Wood is Good
I recently stopped by a sailing club with my O'Day 22 which doesn't have much wood but more so than many newer fiberglass boats, and received several coments on how "classy" my boat looked with the wood. I refinished all the wood on my boat in less than a weekend.
I recently stopped by a sailing club with my O'Day 22 which doesn't have much wood but more so than many newer fiberglass boats, and received several coments on how "classy" my boat looked with the wood. I refinished all the wood on my boat in less than a weekend.
Goes back to the old days...
There is no logic behind the fact that I spend a good bit of time on my wood. I would never (repeat, never) miss a good day of sailing in order to stay at the dock and varnish. But at the same time, there is something about well varnished wood - unlike any other part of a vessel - that relates to the essence of SAILING (as opposed to powerboating). Wood is a sort of legacy that links back to the days when varnish was not applied in vanity - it was a necessity. It is that spirit which keeps me fiddling with what little bit of damned teak I have on my fibreglass boat... Looks damned good too. Rob
There is no logic behind the fact that I spend a good bit of time on my wood. I would never (repeat, never) miss a good day of sailing in order to stay at the dock and varnish. But at the same time, there is something about well varnished wood - unlike any other part of a vessel - that relates to the essence of SAILING (as opposed to powerboating). Wood is a sort of legacy that links back to the days when varnish was not applied in vanity - it was a necessity. It is that spirit which keeps me fiddling with what little bit of damned teak I have on my fibreglass boat... Looks damned good too. Rob
fibergalss n stainless all the way
Give me Fibergalss & Stainless Steel all the way. But I enjoy the warmth of wood accents down below where it belongs. Regards, Sam Esaw
Give me Fibergalss & Stainless Steel all the way. But I enjoy the warmth of wood accents down below where it belongs. Regards, Sam Esaw
beauty of wood
I love exterior wood, and years ago I owned a wooden boat. But the hostile salt water environment requires and intense commitment to the upkeep of wood. When I bought my new Hunter 340, one of the attractions to me was the fact that the only wood on the exterior is a very narrow strip across the companion way. ajp
I love exterior wood, and years ago I owned a wooden boat. But the hostile salt water environment requires and intense commitment to the upkeep of wood. When I bought my new Hunter 340, one of the attractions to me was the fact that the only wood on the exterior is a very narrow strip across the companion way. ajp
Less maintenance the better.
I'd rather spend my time sailing then sanding/oiling/varnishing. It looks real nice but doesn't add much to the sailing experience for me. I'd rather have as little teak as possible on the exterior of the boat. Maybe someday someone will come up with artificial teak that is nice and shiny like teak but require little to no maintenance like plastic or stainless.
I'd rather spend my time sailing then sanding/oiling/varnishing. It looks real nice but doesn't add much to the sailing experience for me. I'd rather have as little teak as possible on the exterior of the boat. Maybe someday someone will come up with artificial teak that is nice and shiny like teak but require little to no maintenance like plastic or stainless.
If it's not Glass, I Pass !
Fiber Glass, Plastics, Stainless Steel and full floatation Foam make a boat safe, and allows the owner time to enjoy it.
Fiber Glass, Plastics, Stainless Steel and full floatation Foam make a boat safe, and allows the owner time to enjoy it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
There is nothing more beautiful than a well-maintained, all-wood boat. Conversely, there is nothing more bland than an all-fiberglass vessel. I believe that my Oday 23, with her high shine teak accents is a happy compromise. I will gladly sacrifice a little time in the maintenance department to get those double takes at the dock and on the water. I want my boat to be uniquely mine and I want my pride of ownership to show through. Give me a little wood any day!
There is nothing more beautiful than a well-maintained, all-wood boat. Conversely, there is nothing more bland than an all-fiberglass vessel. I believe that my Oday 23, with her high shine teak accents is a happy compromise. I will gladly sacrifice a little time in the maintenance department to get those double takes at the dock and on the water. I want my boat to be uniquely mine and I want my pride of ownership to show through. Give me a little wood any day!
wood-no-wood
I like wood but the weather is so hard on it. I think more wood should be used inside the boat to compensate for the missing wood outside. There is no fiberglass that looks or smells better than wood.
I like wood but the weather is so hard on it. I think more wood should be used inside the boat to compensate for the missing wood outside. There is no fiberglass that looks or smells better than wood.
TWEEK YOUR TEAK
You don't use a push mower, most meals are microwaved, the drive-thru cleans your car, nobody sews . . . . what are you doing, golfing?! Your response doesn't surprise me.
You don't use a push mower, most meals are microwaved, the drive-thru cleans your car, nobody sews . . . . what are you doing, golfing?! Your response doesn't surprise me.
aesthetics of wood
I have a cherubini H30. I think the wood trim adds alot to the boat's appeal. Below deck, fiberglass only would make me feel I was living in a bathtub. Having to maintain it is part of the appeal. C Brydon
I have a cherubini H30. I think the wood trim adds alot to the boat's appeal. Below deck, fiberglass only would make me feel I was living in a bathtub. Having to maintain it is part of the appeal. C Brydon
Wood is beautiful - and biodegradeable
No matter how little wood is on your boat, you have to varnish and nurse it. Just like you need to care for your gelcoat if you want to keep your surface looking good and healthy. And to look at some newly varnished wood and see it shine pays for all the effort. And think of what will happen someday to your hull after its prime.. Can you dispose off it environmetally safe???
No matter how little wood is on your boat, you have to varnish and nurse it. Just like you need to care for your gelcoat if you want to keep your surface looking good and healthy. And to look at some newly varnished wood and see it shine pays for all the effort. And think of what will happen someday to your hull after its prime.. Can you dispose off it environmetally safe???
Attachments
Plastic Wood is Good!
I've replaced ALL exterior wood with Plastic Wood on my 1980H30 and she looks fantastic! Handrail, winchpads, cabin side trim, and main hatch. I'll send pics to anyone.
I've replaced ALL exterior wood with Plastic Wood on my 1980H30 and she looks fantastic! Handrail, winchpads, cabin side trim, and main hatch. I'll send pics to anyone.
wood(teak)
i'm ick of all the tps to woking with teak with cleaner,brghtner,oil an the mess. i just swithed to cetol and lov i!!! davejdnj@cs.com
i'm ick of all the tps to woking with teak with cleaner,brghtner,oil an the mess. i just swithed to cetol and lov i!!! davejdnj@cs.com
six inches
My next boat will have about six inches of teak. Wood is beautiful, I just don't want to spend my time maintaining it. I have tough enough time on a lake, I can't imagine maintaining wood on the ocean. It's beautiful, I just want to spend my time sailing.
My next boat will have about six inches of teak. Wood is beautiful, I just don't want to spend my time maintaining it. I have tough enough time on a lake, I can't imagine maintaining wood on the ocean. It's beautiful, I just want to spend my time sailing.
Toe Rails, Board Slides, Handrails, Oh My!!
On our O'Day 25 there is about 10 hours of teak work. The toe rails, companionway board slides and handrails on the coach roof. If it's hot and the boat is bouncing around on the mooring it can be a nuisance to do, otherwise the look and feel to me is well worth it. Our boat does strike a "mid-70's" balance with plastic and wood below. There is wood below, fiberboard with wood vaneer, in many cases it is contact paper, but it has the "warmth of wood" feel that we appreciate. While we were looking for a boat, we looked at many clorox bottles and decided that the day or so of upkeep was worth it. BTW - we also don't have cable tv, in fact I still have three working black and white tv's at home, and our cars have crank windows, maybe we're hold-outs or throw backs. Geof s/v Day-O
On our O'Day 25 there is about 10 hours of teak work. The toe rails, companionway board slides and handrails on the coach roof. If it's hot and the boat is bouncing around on the mooring it can be a nuisance to do, otherwise the look and feel to me is well worth it. Our boat does strike a "mid-70's" balance with plastic and wood below. There is wood below, fiberboard with wood vaneer, in many cases it is contact paper, but it has the "warmth of wood" feel that we appreciate. While we were looking for a boat, we looked at many clorox bottles and decided that the day or so of upkeep was worth it. BTW - we also don't have cable tv, in fact I still have three working black and white tv's at home, and our cars have crank windows, maybe we're hold-outs or throw backs. Geof s/v Day-O
Wood is great!
I have a 1966 Tartan 27', fair ammount of wood trim on seat backs, instrument casings, hand rails, vent boxes etc. I've been fighting my old Atomic 4 for a few years, and left the wood go, it was looking pretty bad. Now that I've had the engine rebuilt and I'm not wasting time below, I've been bringing all the wood back. Once it's up to snuff, it doesn't take much to keep it that way, and it looks so much better than the plain white boxes. A whole boat of wood is too much, but a 'more than six inches' ammount of good looking trim is great.
I have a 1966 Tartan 27', fair ammount of wood trim on seat backs, instrument casings, hand rails, vent boxes etc. I've been fighting my old Atomic 4 for a few years, and left the wood go, it was looking pretty bad. Now that I've had the engine rebuilt and I'm not wasting time below, I've been bringing all the wood back. Once it's up to snuff, it doesn't take much to keep it that way, and it looks so much better than the plain white boxes. A whole boat of wood is too much, but a 'more than six inches' ammount of good looking trim is great.
Exterior No Interior YES!
Well I love wood but I love sailing more. The ideal boat would have lots of nice wood inside and be stainless & plastic outside.
Well I love wood but I love sailing more. The ideal boat would have lots of nice wood inside and be stainless & plastic outside.
Classic look of wood
For the past 7 seasons I have owned a Venture of Newport 23 foot cutter. This boat came with some exterior wood trim and I have added more. It was the classy lines and WOOD trim that first caught my eye. I have refinished the wood each winter,removing most of it and doing it inside. A pain in the butt at the time but once reinstalled and seen at the mooring the revarnished wood really sets these boats apart from the run of the mill plain white regular production boats of today. mike
For the past 7 seasons I have owned a Venture of Newport 23 foot cutter. This boat came with some exterior wood trim and I have added more. It was the classy lines and WOOD trim that first caught my eye. I have refinished the wood each winter,removing most of it and doing it inside. A pain in the butt at the time but once reinstalled and seen at the mooring the revarnished wood really sets these boats apart from the run of the mill plain white regular production boats of today. mike
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