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.

So I may have to do it myself.

How long can I leave her out of the water while I am working on it without damaging the boat or will it damage it at all?

The boat is in the Florida keys.

Any help will be appreciated.

Comments for
Out of Water

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Feb 13, 2011

Drying
by: Aleksandr

Maybe keep her in the sling a few days when you put her back in the drink, pull 'er out again; "seams" well "payed" enough?

Feb 12, 2011

Drying Out
by: Mike

Hi Matt,

It’s an unfortunate fact that the world is full of ‘experts’ on plastic boats but when it comes to a real boat, a wooden boat, it’s not that they don’t want to work on one but that they haven’t a clue where to start.

It’s probably best to do it yourself then you at least know that it has been sorted properly.

She will dry out and the planking shrink if she is out of the water for any length of time but that won’t be a problem.

The only thing is that when se goes back in she will have to ‘take up’.

How long she will take to ‘take up’ will depend on the type of timber.

Hardwoods usually take longer than softwoods.

So, what needs doing?

Is it a re-caulk?

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