dumb question about wood in boats

[tbird175]

I still have a lot to learn about boats. One thing that puzzles me is wood in stringers, decks, and transoms. I know that the wood in these areas will eventually rot, expecially if not maintained properly. I wonder how larger fiberglass boats are able to survive when they are moored at open docks. They are exposed to the weather and there is no plug that can be pulled for drainage, I know that they have deck drains and bilge pumps, am I missing something in their design.

 

[cymru]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

Mine is a 20 foot Ocqueteau (French) and is all year in the water. The deck and transom area all drain off very well and the bilges are watertight. I have a bilge pump but have never had to use it.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

I still have a lot to learn about boats. One thing that puzzles me is wood in stringers, decks, and transoms. I know that the wood in these areas will eventually rot, expecially if not maintained properly. I wonder how larger fiberglass boats are able to survive when they are moored at open docks. They are exposed to the weather and there is no plug that can be pulled for drainage, I know that they have deck drains and bilge pumps, am I missing something in their design.

The truth of the matter is, wood is probably the best material to use in this areas (up for debate, but I think it's a great material here), and believe it or not, when designed and built correcltly, they should not rot. The wood in these areas rots, because of poor design, poor engineering, or poor maintenance.

I had a boat with a rotted stringer, bulkhead and probably the transom. The reason it rotted... screws and holes cut in the glassed over wood stringer and never sealed. The PO let the bilge fill with water, stringer got wet, and rot simply continues through the wood.

My new boat is one year older, the stringers are all glassed in, and glassed in well, anything mounted to them is mounted right and adhered properly, and they are sound and rot free.

Rot in the boats structure is not a guarantee, it's something that can be avoided, but needs to be addressed from the boats early life on.

 

[JoLin]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

I still have a lot to learn about boats. One thing that puzzles me is wood in stringers, decks, and transoms. I know that the wood in these areas will eventually rot, expecially if not maintained properly. I wonder how larger fiberglass boats are able to survive when they are moored at open docks. They are exposed to the weather and there is no plug that can be pulled for drainage, I know that they have deck drains and bilge pumps, am I missing something in their design.

You aren't missing anything. Look at it this way...

A cockpit cover will keep most water off the deck, so it won't drain into the bilge

Well maintained and sealed through-hull fixtures will keep water out of the bilge, too.

Any water that does get into the bilge (from rain and spray) should be easily handled by a working bilge pump.

As long as the other 3 items above are taken care of, water level in the bilge will never approach the level of the stringers.

Covered, well-built and well-maintained boats don't suffer significant water intrusion anywhere, and can last almost indefinitely.

My .02

 

[1fishbone]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

YOU'RE OBSERVANT!
Large boats at docks have self draining decks.
Rain water 'should' drain overboard.

A lot of smaller boats don't have self draining decks. Rain water builds up in the bilge. They are more prone to having debris, leaves, trash block the drains and water just sits there. They also have carpeting...trapping moisture!

FYI fresh water rots wood more than salt water, fresh water has more bacteria.

ANY wood in any boat is subject to rot if not taken care of.

 

[JimS123]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

The truth of the matter is, wood is probably the best material to use in this areas (up for debate, but I think it's a great material here), and believe it or not, when designed and built correcltly, they should not rot. The wood in these areas rots, because of poor design, poor engineering, or poor maintenance.

the stringers are all glassed in, and glassed in well, anything mounted to them is mounted right and adhered properly, and they are sound and rot free.

I agree wholeheartedly. "Designed and built correctly, all glassed in well" is the key.....Theoretically.

But who builds them that way? I can think of a dozen companies that supposedly build high quality boats, but I can't think of a single manufacturer where I haven't seen at least one that rotted.

 

[tbird175]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

thanks for the replies. Do the larger boats, cruisers , trawlers, etc. use wood for strength?

 

[25thmustang]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

I agree wholeheartedly. "Designed and built correctly, all glassed in well" is the key.....Theoretically.

But who builds them that way? I can think of a dozen companies that supposedly build high quality boats, but I can't think of a single manufacturer where I haven't seen at least one that rotted.

Honestly, none are probably built the way they "should" be. It is just easier to not double and triple check that every penetration through the glass into the wood is sealed up properly.

I will say this, my older boat the glass over the stringers was much poorer than the current boat.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

thanks for the replies. Do the larger boats, cruisers , trawlers, etc. use wood for strength?

IMHO YES, new boats, high end boats are using non-wood stringers...you pay for it too!

The ones that do, advertise it...otherwise 'assume' it's wood.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

Boat builders use wood because that's the only material they could find that would rot as well as burn.

 

[JimS123]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

Boat builders use wood because that's the only material they could find that would rot as well as burn.

That makes no sense. Please explain!

 

[Split Shot]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

Jim he is kidding! He is saying that the boat builders don't want the boats lasting forever. They would be out of business

 

[Fireman431]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

Jim he is kidding! He is saying that the boat builders don't want the boats lasting forever. They would be out of business

Summed up!

The primary thing that is keeping boats with wood rotting from underfoot is the lack of maintenance. Drain the water from the bilge and it can't rot the stringers. If there is a gap in the glassing and water gets in, it will dry out after the water has been drained. Wood rots when it is left to soak under water and can't dry out.

 

[oops!]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

ive done plenty of stringer and transom jobs on 30 plus footers that have wet/rotted transoms.

the main reason for rotted transoms is improper thru hull fittings on the transom.

the fiberglass.....if left with water in in will eventually let the water leash into the wood. (the exterior gellcoat is a waterproof barrier between the water and fiberglass).

they use wood for a number of reasons.....the number one reason is cost......wood is cheaper than the composites avalable. and it has a built in life span.

the reason for wood is different in different areas of the boat....the transom is mostly anti crush.

the stringers are for shape and some flex while remaining strong. but mostly......for the shape to glass over.

fiberglass is an extremely strong material and if applied in the correct shape/method.....can be stronger than steel.

cheers
oops

 

[sasto]

Re: dumb question about wood in boats

thanks for the replies. Do the larger boats, cruisers , trawlers, etc. use wood for strength?

Not around here...no wood used in most sportfish, unless cold molded. Some made with hollow stringers, some with composite core. Some manufacturers have a stringer/bulkhead mold and the part is vacuume bagged in and glassed.