Now that the topic has been brought up, how do the members of this forum feel about wooden boats. My first sailboat was a William Atkins designed gaff-rigged cutter. It was built in 1936 and was still going strong in the late '70's. In fact, the last time I was in San Diego I spotted her in a slip in the Harbour Island Marina. I tried to find out who owned her, I would have loved to sail her again. I spent seven years on my next wooden boat, an Angleman-Davies designed Sea Witch. Whwn we went aground in Costa Rica we were able to repair the keelson with a hunk of hardwood (read, very hard) that we found under a piece of old machinery in an old mill. I know there is more maintenance involved but they just seem to have more character than the "tupperware" boats.;D Just wondering. how do you guys feel about this topic. Don't be shy, I can take it.
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Scrape, sand, paint. Repeat.
I agree that wooden boats are beautiful to look at. We have a short season here. I would rather spend it sailing than woodworking.
I agree that wooden boats are beautiful to look at. We have a short season here. I would rather spend it sailing than woodworking.
performance?
I guess that depends on how you define performance. On my ketch we could carry a lot more sail in a stiffer breeze. We didn't have to reef as soon and many times left newer boats in our wake. If the wind was right I could fly seven sails. Now, that was sailing.
I guess that depends on how you define performance. On my ketch we could carry a lot more sail in a stiffer breeze. We didn't have to reef as soon and many times left newer boats in our wake. If the wind was right I could fly seven sails. Now, that was sailing.
Boats are supposed to be wood!
Oak frames, mahagony planking and teak decks - that's my idea of a 'yacht'. Unfortunately I have to make due with a clorox bottle 'boat'. Grew up on a wooden 65-foot Wheeler, first boat was a gift from Dad - a wood 16-foot Trojan runabout, my first sailboat a wood Lightening. I lust for a wooden boat.
Oak frames, mahagony planking and teak decks - that's my idea of a 'yacht'. Unfortunately I have to make due with a clorox bottle 'boat'. Grew up on a wooden 65-foot Wheeler, first boat was a gift from Dad - a wood 16-foot Trojan runabout, my first sailboat a wood Lightening. I lust for a wooden boat.
I would love to have a big wooden boat....
..and the money to pay someone to keep it beautiful. abe
..and the money to pay someone to keep it beautiful. abe
Not Sailing
I see more of the wooden boats not out sailing that much. They do look nice but that's all I do look at them sooooo nice and soooo much work. Nick
I see more of the wooden boats not out sailing that much. They do look nice but that's all I do look at them sooooo nice and soooo much work. Nick
They were good in their day
If you purchased a wooden boat today, chances are that the fasteners are probably 50 to 70 years old depending on the age of the boat. That should be the first thing to think about (or panic, about) when things start kicking up. Most wooden boats these days are owned and maintained by small museums or maritime organizations. Reason being is that thay have plenty of volunteer help and donated parts to keep her alive. Tony B
If you purchased a wooden boat today, chances are that the fasteners are probably 50 to 70 years old depending on the age of the boat. That should be the first thing to think about (or panic, about) when things start kicking up. Most wooden boats these days are owned and maintained by small museums or maritime organizations. Reason being is that thay have plenty of volunteer help and donated parts to keep her alive. Tony B
The wooden boats were very much like their modern
fiberglass conterparts. Some were built to last for a hundred years and some were built as expendables. As TonyB says the fasteners may be of great concern. Many were fastened with galvanized nails but somewere built with teak planking over locust or osage orange and fastened with copper rivets. The choice of material as always was of the greatest importance.
fiberglass conterparts. Some were built to last for a hundred years and some were built as expendables. As TonyB says the fasteners may be of great concern. Many were fastened with galvanized nails but somewere built with teak planking over locust or osage orange and fastened with copper rivets. The choice of material as always was of the greatest importance.
Love the Woodies...
...my dream was a Choy Lee Lion. Glad that one didn't come true, tho. We use our 40.5 Hunter Legend as a second home and the Choy Lee would have not been suited to that. I had a wood 26' T-Bird for 19 years and she was a great day-sailor altho we spent weeks at a time on her in Catalina. The laz rotted and we spent a season rebuilding her (during which my wife received several offers to leave me). I had a business friend (of the Voit family) who owned and restored Ticonderoga in the UK. Major job, but he could afford it. I had the impression it was a labor of love and preservation of an icon. We still have some interest. We are part owners of a 1915 Fay Bowen 22' launch. Wooden boats are not the horror many people think IF they are maintained regularly and well. Still, that maintenance is a large undertaking and commitment. In SoCal, many marinas will no longer accept wooden boats, and insurance is difficult. Rick D.
...my dream was a Choy Lee Lion. Glad that one didn't come true, tho. We use our 40.5 Hunter Legend as a second home and the Choy Lee would have not been suited to that. I had a wood 26' T-Bird for 19 years and she was a great day-sailor altho we spent weeks at a time on her in Catalina. The laz rotted and we spent a season rebuilding her (during which my wife received several offers to leave me). I had a business friend (of the Voit family) who owned and restored Ticonderoga in the UK. Major job, but he could afford it. I had the impression it was a labor of love and preservation of an icon. We still have some interest. We are part owners of a 1915 Fay Bowen 22' launch. Wooden boats are not the horror many people think IF they are maintained regularly and well. Still, that maintenance is a large undertaking and commitment. In SoCal, many marinas will no longer accept wooden boats, and insurance is difficult. Rick D.
I have owned over a hundred wooden boats
from 12 to 65 feet, and I was the founder and manager of Canada's only accredited school of wooden boatbuilding. All my boats are glass now. I have a house, a (work from home) job, a ten year old daughter and other "hobbies" besides boating. The glass boats sit and wait until I want to go out. Almost no maintenance compared to wood, and if I leave them under a tree and they get full of leaves, it's just a scrub and clean out, and the glass is ready to do its job. Wood deteriorates if ignored. Glass doesn't, at least in this climate. I have seen some glass boats in the tropics that seemed to have bad UV damage. I agree that a bronze fastened Teak on Yakal or Locust hull is very durable, and shape determins speed, not construction material. I wouldn't put a Teak or any kind of planked deck on a boat. They leak, and if there's plywood underlay, it's a mess waiting to happen. Modern teak decks that are vacuum bagged to glass are OK, but I'd rather just have the glass deck. Strip planked boats, perhaps with a cloth and epoxy on the outside, are a modern, low maintenance approach, especially if you want a design that's not in mass production. Really good (British Standard 1088)plywod is also pretty durable. Sam Devlin has some lovely designs that go together pretty fast in stitch and glue plywood.
from 12 to 65 feet, and I was the founder and manager of Canada's only accredited school of wooden boatbuilding. All my boats are glass now. I have a house, a (work from home) job, a ten year old daughter and other "hobbies" besides boating. The glass boats sit and wait until I want to go out. Almost no maintenance compared to wood, and if I leave them under a tree and they get full of leaves, it's just a scrub and clean out, and the glass is ready to do its job. Wood deteriorates if ignored. Glass doesn't, at least in this climate. I have seen some glass boats in the tropics that seemed to have bad UV damage. I agree that a bronze fastened Teak on Yakal or Locust hull is very durable, and shape determins speed, not construction material. I wouldn't put a Teak or any kind of planked deck on a boat. They leak, and if there's plywood underlay, it's a mess waiting to happen. Modern teak decks that are vacuum bagged to glass are OK, but I'd rather just have the glass deck. Strip planked boats, perhaps with a cloth and epoxy on the outside, are a modern, low maintenance approach, especially if you want a design that's not in mass production. Really good (British Standard 1088)plywod is also pretty durable. Sam Devlin has some lovely designs that go together pretty fast in stitch and glue plywood.
Hard to dispute
With that many wooden boats under his belt and his experience, its hard to dispute his response. Tony B
With that many wooden boats under his belt and his experience, its hard to dispute his response. Tony B
I think that the best of both worlds is
a strong fiberglass hull and deck and a wooden interior. Aluminum spars instead of wood and of course stainless steel standing rigging instead of galvanized wire served and covered with slush.
a strong fiberglass hull and deck and a wooden interior. Aluminum spars instead of wood and of course stainless steel standing rigging instead of galvanized wire served and covered with slush.
Now Now, Guy, don't be labeling Wooden boats
and vacuum tube electronics as "old School". I learned radio repair in the Air Force on equipment with vacuum tubes and servo tuners. And it seems like that was just yesterday. I learned to row in wooden boats just the day before yesterday. ;D
and vacuum tube electronics as "old School". I learned radio repair in the Air Force on equipment with vacuum tubes and servo tuners. And it seems like that was just yesterday. I learned to row in wooden boats just the day before yesterday. ;D
We are looking at a Nordic-Perry 44
built custom by a very good and meticulous shipwright in 1996 of Epoxy Impregnated wood and glass topsides. The craftsmanship is GORGEOUS and the hull from the waterline to the coaming is stained and polyurethane coated wood so you can see the grain. Bob Perry designed the boat and then followed along during the construction. The interior and electronics were put in only two years ago. Ya can't lump all wood boats in the same basket.
built custom by a very good and meticulous shipwright in 1996 of Epoxy Impregnated wood and glass topsides. The craftsmanship is GORGEOUS and the hull from the waterline to the coaming is stained and polyurethane coated wood so you can see the grain. Bob Perry designed the boat and then followed along during the construction. The interior and electronics were put in only two years ago. Ya can't lump all wood boats in the same basket.
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