Woodboat Questions & Answers

1965 31' Wooden Trojan  My husband and I have aquired his grandfather's 1965 31' wooden Trojan cruiser.

She is currently named the "Ellen B." Hubby's grandfather had the ...

Bluenose ll with its booby hatches  Can anyone help this reader to find information on the “Booby Hatches” Bluenose ll.
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Please post or send me to a site ...

1940 Rhodes 27 Project...  I want to change a few mahogany planks on my 1940 Rhodes 27 project...

Can I use cedar?

Looking for advice on wooden boats  Ahoy Mates!

I've been shopping for a used sailboat in the 30 to 40 foot range for a couple of months now.

I have looked at a couple of old woodies ...

1956 Helton Runabout.  How do I evaluate the "true" condition of my recently purchased runabout? I just purchased a 1956 Helton Runabout.

It seems to be in fairly good ...

Below Waterline Finish  What is the best finish for below the waterline on a carvel planked hull?

I am considering red lead direct to wood and then car underseal on top.



...

Synthetic standing rigging for gaff rig  I'm looking for directions, book or site, on standing rigging for a gaffer with synthetic rope (Dynema, Spectra).

It's a 21 foot boat, 20 foot wooden ...

Cabin strengthening to step mast  Hi,I have posted a number of questions relating to problems I am facing doing a wooden cabin top conversion.

As I do not want to bore everyone, is ...

How to make traditional looking port holes/windows  I am now completing a wooden cabin top conversion and now need to consider installing port holes.

Traditional port holes are not available or afordable....

Winter Lift Out  Is there a generally accepted minimum amount of time that a 1960's classic wooden yacht should be lifted out of the water to dry out?

She's berthed ...

Home Made Teak Rub Rail  I have an Alerion Express 20, a 20 ft sloop with lines similar to a J22.

I want to fabricate a rubrail preferably out of teak to compliment the teak ...

Merron dinghy restoration ( like Duckling)  I have just started restoration of an 11' 0" Merron dinghy with original enamelled 'Thames Conservancy' registration plate dated nov. 1947.

It's the ...

Small boat cabin wiring  I am building a wooden cabin onto an existing 19' day sailer.

I now need to consider internal wiring for lights, equipment etc.

I've seen a few small ...

Best caulking product for sealing wood boats  Good evening

What is the best product on the market for caulking seams on a wooden boat.

Maureen





Comments
Caulking Products ...

Gunwales:   Gunwales: one-piece or scarfed; painted or varnished?
I have an 18 foot Dan Kidney rowboat with a 5 foot beam and a wine-glass stern, with two sets ...

Plywood for Cavalier Hull  I have a 1956 Chris-Craft 16 foot inboard utility in need of restoration.

It is the boat I learned to ski behind back in the 60's.

The hull and ...

Wood Boat Winterizing  Does anyone know where I could find some informative material on how to winterize my 1962 30 foot Owens Empress Cruiser?

It has twin 283 engines and ...

Clinker built NorwegianTroll  We are considering buying a 1961 troll.

She needs a lot of TLC to bring her back to original condition, but she is basically sound.

We have been ...

First time wooden boat owner needs some advice  Just bought 58 Chris Craft 17' Sportsman.

Bottom has not been re-done, but is very solid mahogany (I think) planks.

It was in the water about 4 ...

Using 4mm, 3 ply Meranti 1088 w/ FG epoxy encapsulation  I have read a number of articles in which it was stated that a stitch and glue boat could be constructed using standard 1/4” exterior grade plywood as ...

Identification and Restoration of a Wooden Boat (by a complete beginner)  Hi Guys,
Cutting a long story short I have had the good fortune to come upon a boat, a 14' clinker built sailing dinghy, most likely one of the Thames ...

Blackened floor of cedar strip boat  I would like to restore this 58 Peterborough...

When the plywood floor was removed exposing the original floor there appears to be a burned or blackened ...

Is this boat to far gone?  I may have the opportunity of taking on a restoration of a wooden boat.

I’m a bench joiner so I’m pretty handy with wood and not shy of a bit of hard ...

Filling in deck grooves,,, what do I use?  Restoring a 1953 thompson 15 foot runabout.

The deck grooves need to be recaulked.

I have cleaned out the old caulk.

What are the recomended ...

Bottom haul out problems on 1960 55' Stephens wood boat  1960 55' Stephens has been in the water 3 years.

This is northwest Washington salt water considered toxic.

I am concerned with the cleaning process....

Not sure what I have...please help...  I restored this canoe,kayak Sail with pontoons and rudder...

Not sure who or when this was made...

I recanvassed her...but havent tried to figure ...

What 2 part epoxy paint to use?  Hi I have a 17ft marine ply boat and I need help.

What 2 part epoxy paint to use?




***SOCIALIZEIT***

Woods to use on 16' La Chatte Catamaran  I am building a 16' catamaran and need advice on materials to use.

The plans call for plywood construction.

I will be using okume plywood.

The ...

1949 Wooden Sharpie Sailboat   I purchased a 1949 wooden Sharpie sailboat 2 years ago that had been restored.

The previous owner invested about $80,000 ten years ago.

I spent ...

Runabout Flats Boat  Runabout flats boat built w/drill and glued dowels.
Im thinking of building a 19ft flats boat with planking useing dowels and glue.

I have quite ...

Re-planking 1966 37ft Egg  Hi:
For the first time in 10 years I'm not spending 2 days soaking my EGG for the 2011 summer season in Lake Michigan.

I noticed that when my boat ...

1952 Lind Motor Yatch  My boat has wood chinking between wood hull boards.

How & with what do I replace old chinking.

The chinking is 1/4 Inch wide 3/4 inch deep wedges....

Scorpion  Were do I find my 19ft half cabin cruiser's serial code.

Can anyone help please as this is my first boat project.

If you can please email me on gemz1105@...

Cabin top beams and Deck beams  I am building a 29' stitch and glue cruising sailboat and I plan on having traditional looking deck beams and cabin top beams laminated from mahogany and ...

Repairing a Pine Deck  I am currently restoring a 30 foot 1939-built wooden gaff cutter.

It doesn't need a great deal of work, it is generally in good condition and is ...

Stripping Paint from an Optimist?  Hello Everyone,
I am starting to restore an older wooden Optimist (sailing pram).

It has been sitting unused for years, and the paint that's on it ...

Cedar Boat Model - 1:20 Scale  Hi All,

I am building a 1:20 scale, model boat, out of 18mm cedar boards (cross section), epoxy resin used to join the planks.

This is to be placed ...

Epoxy over Strip Plank  Hi to sailors all,

Am considering a 40' Yawl, about 30 years old ,totally stripped out.

The Hull seems solid and sound, previous owner oiled the ...

Paint for a 26 foot Wooden, Clinker, Ketch   What is the correct paint for my 26 foot wooden, clinker, ketch, circa 1963 asked Richard from the UK?

Richard asked the question on the DIY Wood ...

Displacement hull centre of gravity  I have a 28ft custom bay cruiser approx 60 years old that I am re building it has a 3 cyl cabota engine that weighs approx 350 + kgs.

I would like to ...

Canvas Deck Pain  The canvas on the deck is stained and dirty from too many years stored in a barn.

What kind of paint does one use over the canvas?

Out of Water  Hey this is Matt.

I have a 1963 43' wood vessel with twin Detroits and it needs a bottom job badly and nobody wants to mess with it because its wood....

Non-Toxic Glue?  Looking for a Glue that would not harm the boat builder who has a lung or breathing problem.

The Dr says no boat building because of the vapors from ...

Kidney Duck Skiff Restoration  I have a circa 1920 Dan Kidney cedar strip duck skiff that I want to restore.

The hull looks to be in great shape.

Do I just power wash, sand ...

Decking  Looking to deck and rail this 14' skiff........

Any suggestions on wood species...

Interior is to be white, bottom to splash rail white and dark ...

Small vintage wooden dinghy made in 2 parts.  I was given a small vintage wooden dinghy made in 2 parts and needing restorations.

This dinghy, like I said, is made in 2 parts, and has a joint ...

Copper bottom paint  Hi how do you thin copper bottom paint that has dried up partially?

How to Epoxy a16 ft cedar lapstrake sailboat bottom ?  What are the steps for applying epoxy to a 16 ft cedar sailboat bottom?

Thank you

Larry

Anti Freeze wood rot treatment discolouration?  I am writing in reference to my wife Ann Marie's boat Helios, featured on this site.

After reading the section on wood rot and its treatment, the ...

Plugs for thru hull fittings no longer needed  What is the best way to plug a hole left by a thru hull fitting that is no longer necessary?

I'm retrofitting a 20" clinker built, cedar on oak frame ...

Blane  I have a 22foot cabin cruiser riverboat and I need to now how to rig something up to turn my boat over to restore the bottom.

If you have any ideas ...

A "Connie" for Kids in Need  We have a pretty special 1962 36-Foot Chris-Craft Constellation that we now want to prepare the bottom for painting.

If you go to our site, prayermama....

Replacing Ribs dispite Cement Bilge's....  Hello All!

I have a predicament, I'm repairing some broken ribs in my recently purchased 1940's Pitch pine on oak gaff cutter, long keel yacht.

She'...

Century ski dart  Does anyone know of a good boat restoration outfit close to Bozeman Montana?

What is best to do with a worn teak deck?  I have a boat with a teak deck on which so much material has worn away that the grooves are no longer deep enough to hold the caulking.

I understand ...

Chippewa Boats  Has anyone ever heard of wooden Chippewa brand boats?

Replacing Bilge Stringers  I have a 1940 Trumpy that has a few rotten bilge stringers.

What is the best way to replace them?

Are these also called intercoatals?

Exterior house paint for hull?  After reading the http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/Paint.html#Which_to_use_ I'm still not sure if high quality non-marine exterior paint for the waterline ...

Dual solar and 12 volt vents who sells them ?  Years ago I had a solar vent that also had a 12 volt switch.

I do not see this type offered in the standard catalogs anymore.

About to lay up for ...

TIMBER QUALITY OR GRADING  What sort of timber quality or grading is required for keel timbers say 300 x 200 x 8.5 m long

Should I let this one pass?  Found this boat on craigslist but I'm not sure whether I should make the deal or not...



Any suggestions???

Homemade removable hull registration plate  I want to make a removable wood plate to hold my registration letters and numbers.

I have a piece of mahogany cut and stained ready to go.

Do I ...

Shaft Anode onWwooden Boat   Is it mandatory to fit shaft anode on wooden boat with copper cladding?

1960 Trojan Cabin Cruiser in need of a new Bottom.  I have a 1960 Trojan Cabin Cruiser due to rot I have to replace the bottom!

I was thinking about doing the whole thing with the marine plywood as I ...

Fastening teak hand/toe rails to deck.  What is the best way to fasten teak hand/toe rails to the fore-deck?

I have 6mm 316grade s/s lag screws that I planned to screw and epoxy into the bases ...

Rust Stains on Hull Planks  Do rust stains mean the fasteners are failing?

The boat is ironed fastened and has stains bleeding out on some of the fasteners.

The boat is old ...

I need to replace my rub rails on a 40ft timber cruiser  Hi, I have a old timber cruiser built in about 1876.

She is in quite good condition but the rub rails are destroyed in some areas.

I have seen ...

Preventing rot in a wet bilge  I recently purchased a Picaroon II sailboat (featured
elsewhere on this site) , the hull of which is built of eastern white cedar strips, sheathed ...

1959 Hiliner Fleetstar.......here we go.......(??????)  Ok brothers here we go.....

I bought a 1959 Hiliner....it will be in my garage tomorrow.

Where do I start?

All original....the deck on the bow ...

Daddy's Dream Moma's Nightmare  1966 Trojan hard top.

Wanted to ask if anyone has tried Rino lining on the Hull?

If so what are the problems this can or will create.




...

What Glue to Use???  I have been a life-long user of Resorcinol glue.

Now that I have run out of it, I find it is impossible to find now, it is removed off the market.

Can ...

Info on the Popular Mechanics PM 38 13ft runabout  Hello all,

Does anyone know about the PM 38?

Its plans were posted in a 1962 Popular Mechanics.

Back then they bragged about it costing $38 ...

Wooden Keel  When you build a large timber boat, say 75 feet boat with timber keel how do you join the timber to make the keel in simple terms ?

Cauking a thoroughly dried-out hull.  Good day boaters,

I have recently taken on a 13ton Hillyard ketch which has been left ashore in Spain for 7 years and so is completely dried out.

Apart ...

21 foot Shetland model called Daisy  The boat was built in 1965, heavy boards up to waterline to enable it to go on skerries and kill seals.

I need to replace a board would like some advice ...

Making plywood water resistant  Hi,

I am in Peshawar, Pakistan- I am building a boat out of plywood- we do not have marine grade plywood, can it be made water resistant by coating ...

How to bend/shape Plywood?  Hi, I'm a first timer and want to build a 10 to 12 ft dingy using the stitch and glue method.

I've done a lot of reading on the website but can't find ...

Flat bottomed boat query  Sad I know but I'm helping my daughter do some homework and the question is
" a small boat with a flat bottom?"

Beginning with SA.... ( 6 letters)

Mast position for a junk rig converting from Bermudan  I've seen a wooden yacht in fair condition bermudan rigged but I wish to change to a Junk rig.

What is the optimum position or is it dependent on ...

What is the best wood to use for ribs  What is the best wood to use for ribs?

Amesbury Skiff  I just purchased a 1940's Amesbury Skiff made at the Lowell's Boat Shop in MA.

It needs refinishing and this is only my second woodboat project.

Any ...

After she's stripped down completely  I haven't removed all of the old paint yet, but I think I've figured out what to do.

I used a grinder on the flat surfaces, and will be following ...

Stripping My Wood Boat  1955 North American made in Warsaw IN.

What is the best product to strip my paint and varnish covered boat?

How do I find the year and make ...

Restoring and Refinishing Old Oak Hatch Doors  I have two doors that go to the booby hatch of our 1925 70ft tugboat.

The doors haven't been refinished in a very long time (we just purchased the ...

An Old Colonial Boat  I just got this boat but don't know anything about it.

It needs to be repaired because of wood damage.

What is the best way to repair this?

Back ...

Power sanders?  What kind of handheld sander will help in stripping old finish off?

I've tried chemical stripper, scrapers, and an oscillating sander.

If I want ...

Re-sealing bottom seams  I have an old century boat, has not been in water for 20 years, the bottom wood seems good, have poked around.

Ran the hose inside, it leaks terribly....

Hardwood or softwood bungs?  What is the best timber for making wooden bungs?

Hardwood or softwood?

What timber is most effective and watertight?

This is for near the keel ...

Lene  Lene is a Nordic Folkboat.

Before preparing her for antifoulfing we notice tiny riverlets of stained water ouzing from the line between the last clinker ...

Penguin class parts  Where can I find a Penguin class centreboard?

I have been looking online but have had no luck.

Glassing an Antique Woodie Hull  I have a 36 footer with pickled engines that I am pulling.

I plan to pull all the below water hardware, fill the holes and glass her over adding outboards ...

A new boat builder  I'm building a strip built canoe and I'm to the point of filling staple holes and the small imperfections.

Please explain the options for making and ...

3-ply versus 5-ply  Hi folks.
floatyourboat.info

I need to pick your brains.

My new 60s style 21-foot Sea Hawk cabin Cruiser is coming on well but I have a bit ...

Battery Isolation Switch  Can you help me, I need to rewire the battery and I would like to fit an isolation switch, is there a basic wiring diagram available for this?

Interior finish over stain  I'm curious about opinions on an interior finish over a stain.

Varnish or Oil?

Which would you elect from a maintenance/upkeep stand point?

This ...

Cape Cutter 19, frame distance  Ok I’m new to boat building and I am far from having wood working experience.

That said I am making my first boat the design I’m working from is the ...

Nate Tufts  What is the best choice of wood for a 1" X 1" curved dory gunwhale or rub rail?

Replacing screws after painting/varnishing wooden pram  What putty or filler product/products are best when replacing screws after painting/varnishing my plywood 9'pram?

Some screws are stainless, some silicone ...

New Herreshoff  Ready to finish my new boat made with Okume ply and was wondering what you recommend for an inside oil finish.

Know linseed and terps is old standby ...

Some basic advice for an ambitious project  Hello,

I need some information which is not too common.

I want to build a 25ft clinker boat, old fashioned.

So I will be doing bends from steam,...

Wooden boat maintenance  I am interested in buying a boat down the road from me.

It is a 69 Chriss Craft, 33 ft long.

Overall, the boat is in good condition and the price ...

Pain Staking  I'm looking at a traditional wooden boat,and they tell me that it's "build in the traditional time honored, painstaking method of the talented ship-builders ...

Caulking deck seams  I am restoring a Chris Craft runabout and the caulking on the deck seams needs to be replaced.

Any suggestions/techniques will be appreciated.

1....

Wood boat expert in Florida  Can anyone recommend someone in south west Florida, Naples area that does wood boat maintenance.

I have a 17 ft 1958 Chris Craft Sportsman. I need ...

How can I deal temporarily with varnish coming off plywood?  Hello

I have just bought a fireball dinghy with varnished plywood decks.

Some of the varnish (a couple of patches each about 4 inches square) is ...

Your Thoughts on a Junk Rigged St Pierre Dory  Am strongly leaning toward building a +/- 30' St Pierre dory, junk rigged yawl for live aboard...coastal and some blue water cruising.

To be built in ...

Leaking Plywood Boat  I would apprerciate any advice.

I have a small plywood boat about 40-50 years old.

Each time I put it in the water it leaks badly.

Does ...

Can I Get My 60 Wooden Boat Rebuilt in Cuba, Haiti or Honduras?  Information needed on rebuilding a Wooden Boat in Cuba, Haiti or Honduras

Salvaged/Secondhand Boat Interiors Wanted  Hi

Having just brought an old 34' William Osborne (Osprey I think), I am now looking to refurbish it (Myself) so am looking for boat scrap yards that ...

Any DIY yards in Minnesota near Minneapolis?  I have a 1963 35' wooden trawler than I have been working on in Maryland.

Maryland is a great boating community but still few DIY yards that welcome ...

Copper Boat Nails   How much would 8 gauge 65mm copper nails be?


Comments
Boat Nails
by: Mike
Hi,

In the UK about £3.50 per hundred grams seems to be ...

Where can I put it ?  I am building a small Click here to view my "DIY 8ft Boat" blog.

I don't want anything more than how to get it out there for all to see.

Comments ...

flexible sanding boards  Do you have any experience with Flexicat tools? It looks great www.flexicat-tools.com

Floor Softness  I have a 77 Reinell cabin cruiser.

The floor in a small area has gone soft in front of the sink.

This boat is used anytime of the year and is in ...

Windshield Moulding  I have a 1968 28'Johnson Bros. Sea Skiff.

It has a 3 piece wood windshield; 2 opening sections and a fixed center section.

I am looking for a source ...

1963 Century with a Bueler jet drive  Does anyone have advice on finding a steering snout for a Bueler jet drive on a 1963 Century Resorter.

Any info on this boat would be appreciated.

Study case   I'm willing to make a case study on the multi-functionality of boats (4-6m).

I would like to know from boat users which are their needs when boating ...

Trustee  What is the approximate value of a 1958 Westcoaster, 17 ft. boat in good condition?

Test  Test