Rust Stains on Hull Planks

by Walt

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 and needs a lot of TLC but this could be a show stopper.

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Rust Stains on Hull Planks

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Rotting around
by: Ivan

Hi Walt,

I have a timber boat, 30' and was fastened with iron.

The iron fastenings are great, most of them at least.

Now, the problem is not the fastenings but the timber around, old timber starts to rot and badly if it is not checked.

Would be good if you start digging around those rust areas and see whether the timber is good or decaying.

Ivan

Wooden Boat Fasteners
by: Mike

Hi Walt,

As she has been refastened below the waterline there shouldn't be a problem.

Might be worth finding out what she was refastened with, hopefully either copper or silicon bronze.

You can either start another blog with the photos or email them to me as attachments to mike@diy-wood-boat.com, I'd love to see them and I can post them from here.

An automatic bilge pump is cheap and easy enough to fit, my boat stays afloat year round and doesn't leak but I feel better knowing that there is an automatic pump and full battery, just in case.

rusted fasteners
by: walt

Thanks for the response. The owner says that they do not need replacing- but the boat- 43 foot sailboat was built in the 30's.

they are on the hull planking, above the water line. The boat was refastend below the waterline- and sits on a morring year round with NO auto bildge pump- it does not leak!

The highest concentration is the bow area. I have a couple photos- but dont see how to up load- maybe start a new blog...

I am interested in buying the boat- but have never owned a wooden boat and am not sure what i am looking at when it comes to the hull planking and frames.
w

Rusty Iron Fasteners
by: Mike

The stains mean that the fasteners are rusting but not necessarily failing.

Unfortunately the only way to tell is to draw the fastener and have a look.

The advantage of using iron bolts especially on a working boat was that as the timbers ‘worked’ the bolt holes would eventually widen enough to allow water ingress.

This would then start the rusting process, but the surface iron as it oxidises, expands, so this would then tighten up in the bolt hole thus slowing down the water ingress, until the next time.

The drawback of course is that eventually there isn’t enough solid iron left in the bolt for it to do its job.

So where are these fasteners of yours?

Could they not be replaced if necessary?

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