Caulking A Strip Planked Boat

by John Chupka
(Troy, NY )

I have a 1973 40 foot wooden trawler, “Karena”.

She is wood strip mahogany planks for Hull- about 11/2 inches wide.

I want to fill in some seems as it takes at least 5 days to swell.

Some people say tar, others say let it be and let it swell, others use wax.

Any ideas on the tar?

Comments for Caulking A Strip Planked Boat

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Jul 10, 2018
 Tar
by: Mike

Using tar sounds like something they have seen in "Pirates of the Caribbean", very messy.

Providing the gaps are not excessive it's better to use a more temporary method of stopping.

Those who suggest wax are probably thinking of something like Slick Seam compound.

A cheaper alternative might be to just fill the cracks with bar soap rubbed into the crevices this will eventually just wash away.

Or even tape over the cracks with masking tape, this will slow water intake sufficiently while the planks take up.

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