Inspecting and tightening clinker fixings on a lovely but old 26ft wooden cruiser

by Josh
(Noosaville)

Hi all I've got my eye on a lovely looking Owens Sea Skiff, clinker built.

She's a generous lovely fitted out period boat, the hull presently held together I think by being in the water, a few leaks being pumped out by an automatic bilge pump.

The seller pre-ports that she will need pulling out of the water for inspection.

I don't mind committing to work on her but wondered whether taking care of the fastenings meant gutting the boat to get to the inside of the hull for one.

Again the owner (really nice chap) said having not slipped her in a long while that he could not accurately make suggestions about rot etc.

Other comments in this forum have even suggested that the best way to assess a wooden clinker boat was to put them in the water for a season and "get to know them".

Please any comprehensive or point by point advice on this would be most welcome as I'm not work shy, drawn to the boat but don't want to take on an absolute money pit.

Very best

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