Straightening a warped boat?

[Caddy_Kid]

Re: Straightening a warped boat?

Just took another look at the boat, and I see that the bow is in fact true in relation to the keel. Didnt hit me until it was mentioned that a triangle is pretty tough to bend.

It looks like it all comes down to the ribs. I'm used to seeing two piece ribs that are bolted togeather at the chine. This boat is built more like a canoe. It has one piece ribs that run from the keel to the gunwale. Because of this, these ribs naturally want to be straight. The side of the boat that is bent is the side that got the most direct sun on the inside, beating on the ribs. Mix in some summer thunderstorms with rain, and they get pretty hot and moist. Perfect combo to bend wood, or in this case, straighten it.

So what it looks like is that the starboard side of the boat has actually sagged as the ribs became more flexible. Thus dragging that side of the boat down and bending it.

It looks like this sagging occured about amidship, right behind where the front seat appears to have been. This is also where the screws are missing from the starboard side of the floor supports, which would have attached it to the ribs and probably kept it from sagging (since the port side did fine, and has all the screws in it). The screws are missing and there is a 3" gap from the ribs to the bottom of the floor support to within a couple feet of the transom.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Straightening a warped boat?

With the ribs being so far out of shape on the starboard side compared to the port side, I think the boat needs to be torn down to repair. Make new ribs and reattach the lapstrake. Or make new ribs, apply 1/4" plywood planking and glass the whole thing over.

I seriously doubt you will be able to force the boat back into shape because you will not be able to bend the ribs back into their correct shape witout removing them and putting them in a mold to re-shape. You might get close, but it will still be lopsided and will probably handle poorly.

I'll bet money it has to be disassembled to be fixed right.

Unless you have lots of time and great woodworking skills, you might want to consider passing this one up.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Straightening a warped boat?

That boat is really nice looking other than the twist. Look into rot prevention also. A solution of antifreeze (glycol) and borax (borates) will kill the fungi that causes rot. The Glycol penetrates and kills present fungi and the borates remain after the glycol is gone preventing future fungus growth. I'm not sure of the proper mixture but there is info about that on the web.

 

[Caddy_Kid]

Re: Straightening a warped boat?

Yes, I dont think there is much of an easy fix. At least the screws affixing the ribs to the lap are easialy seen since there isnt much paint on that side anymore.

My thought is to set the boat on the concrete, supporting the bow in the uprght and level postion. Then tarp the boat and leave a vaporizer and heater running in it. Give that a couple of days, and then introduce a 32 gal. trash can filled with water for weight on the starboard side. That should give enough constant weight to start bringing that side inline. When and if the ribs touch the floor support, call it good and screw everything back togeather and add the seats for lateral support.

I figure if that dosent work (which it very well wont), at least I havent made anything worse, and then I can find someone that can/wants to do it for themselves, and at least say I tried.

Great info on the rot killer formula. I will do some searching and get it figured out. I have a couple large boats that would benefit from it if nothing else. Thanks!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Straightening a warped boat?

I injected automotive antifreeze in a countertop on our patio (3/4" ply with formica top) several years ago. I injected the rotten wood using a large hypodermic needle normally used to give injections to horses. The rot has not spread since.