thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

40 foot Owens · Feb 12, 2003

I am thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering such as fiberglass or resin but I have no knowledge of what to overlay the wood with. I picked up a book (that went out of publication in the 80s) that explains how to secure fiberglass to a wooden boat. I am dead set on covering my boat with something but dont know what type of material is available today to achieve my goal. If you know of a product that you have used or have seen someone use, to cover and protect a wooden boat, I would like to know of it. If you have done it, please tell me about it. Thanks for your help!

JB · Feb 12, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Moved to Boat Questions.

John Carpenter · Feb 12, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Your local library should have a copy of Wooden Boat Renovation-New Life for Old Boats Using Modern Methods by Jim Trefethen. If they don't have it ask them about an inter-library loan. Cost is only a couple of bucks and you get to keep the book for quite a while. It should answer any questions you might have.

crab bait · Feb 12, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

why must you do this..??

flashback · Feb 13, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

I would have to ask you the same thing as crab bait, what is your goal in cvering the boat?

Bondo · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

AS Crab bait,+ Flashback, I too have to question, WHY ????? I'll also add..... It Won't Work...... Wood in boats has to breathe... And the water swells the wood to stop leaks.... No Matter What you Use.. Wood is Not stable enough, It'll Crack Anything you Use....Even Epoxy... Rather than Destroying a Beautiful boat, Sell it,+ Buy a glass boat....

Jack Shellac · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

There was a very good article in the latest commercial fisherman's journal "National Fisherman" about covering old wooden boats with fiberglass. They use a water activated adhesive to bond the glass to the boat, since the old wood can never be completely dried out. According to the article, they've had great success with old, fairly large fishing boats. I've already thrown the issue away or would give you address. I believe they have a website you could check.

40 foot Owens · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Relentless, Thanks for the advice, I did a library check last July and was not satisfied with my search results. I try again an see what I find. crab bait, flashback, and bondo, I love the boat, money and or time is not an issue. I could easily afford a modern fiberglass boa or keep up the maintenance on this one. My drive to cover her is to provide her another 40-50 years, she deserves it! Solid as a brick! The boat is a real beauty, from the outside, she is an every day boat but inside, the mahogany and the style are like nothing I can fine in a fiberglass boat. The insulation factor is real plus; I sleep like a dream, have a full bath and shower, oven stove. I could comfortably live on her. My goal is to take the best of the 60,s and protect it with the technology of today. I am very much aware that people view wooden boats as undesirable. I plan on keeping her for the rest of my life and am willing to put in the time and money to keep her clean and water tight. I am committed to doing this and want the best possible solution for the boat. Jack Shellac, Thank you, this is the type of help /I was looking for. I will search the web for the article. I have done some reading and do realize that the problem with brining fiberglass and wood together is that the wood moves. I read a book that identified that if you can secure the glass to the wood, there will be movement but the amount is insignificant and the glass stays fastened to the boat. If I do not find a modern technology material to cover the boat, I will follow the fastening method of overlay glass on a wooden boat. Thanks

40 foot Owens · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Jack Shellac, Thanks again, I found the magazine on the internet but the article was not on-line. I did order a subscription. I hope I get the March issue; the March issue has the article you made reference of.

RC Hammer · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Jack, I am a big fan of the Lyman wood boats. There is a gentelman that bought all of the old Lyman equipment and is currently the only known "working expert" that knows a lot about wood boats. He is known as "Doc Lyman" his real name is Tom Koroknay. Check out his websit at www.lymanboats.com. He has a question and answer page and replies to the questions within a day or two. He could give you the best advice on how to preserve a wood boat! He may be even willing to do it for you for a price. Give him a post on his site and see what he thinks. I can't blame you for preserving the old wood beauty. You can't beat the looks of a well kept wood boat. My father is a proud owner of one of the last wood Lymans built in 73. I grew up with wood, and hope to own one some day. Currently I have one of those plastic boats. I tell you what, t ride of the wood is no comparison to a glass boat. It is like driving a cadillac vs a pinto! Good Luck, Hammerhead

steelespike · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

40 ft owens, please dont glass your boat.You will put her into an early grave. Rebuild her as required properly done she will probably out live you.I have a 74 year old wood runabout the bottom has never had major work. She does need it know but until 5 years ago was pretty darn good. As you know wood is the perfect medium for boat building.properly cared for it maintains its shape and strength it insulates, it flexes as needed and more importantly returns to its proper shape.Metal and glass are convenient ways to build boats and have there place especially for certain specific needs but they are not the best material.Ask the boat builders and restorers about fiberglass and the long term results I think youll find its not pretty.

crab bait · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

i'm in no way ,, know everthin',, an can't say if'n a new product or techno has come along.. or even an old one at that.. my question was 'why' an your answer was for eternal prospearity.. well ,, what can you really do..?? if'n you glass it with polyester resin.. that won't work.. poly resin lets rot causin' water moleclues in-like-a-sive.. has ZERO rot preventitive properties.. if you epoxy,, just a bad in this situation.. it'll trap water in an rot.. best thing is to continue to 'love her' an enjoy her today as nothin'last forever..

flashback · Feb 14, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

crab bait you made me cry! tears are running on my cheeks! there is no way I would put any glass to that boat. pPPpp;;leeasese dont. the best thing you can do is forget about anything you have ever heard about covering wood with glass and just TAKE good care of the boat you have GOOD LUCK;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;the boat will last you a long time, just maintain it...........

magster65 · Feb 16, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

I had a 1968 Owens Seaskiff express so I know a little about them, they are absolutely gorgeous boats. A good part of the beauty of these fine vessels is that they are made of hardwood, varnished, oiled and painted. Primative by todays standards but that's what makes them the classics they are. You wouldn't fiberglass or epoxy over your antique furniture or your piano... why would you do it to a classic boat? Bite the bullet and put up with the higher maintenance of wood... without a doubt, if I had more time and money, I'd be in a classic too. To the non-believers of classic wood boats; Ever had a similar size/style classic boat dock next to yours? They have a way of shadowing the new 'tupperware' stuff (like mine). Just my opinion

Hawkeye1 · Feb 17, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

I will go against the grain here. It is hard to say what the value thing will be but that boat probally wont ever be worth a mint either way. They epoxy coat and glass a lot of boats down in the carolina's. Most use 2 layers of 17/08 biaxle on the bottom and 1 layer on the sides about the waterline. All use epoxy for this. I personaly know of 2 43,46' boats that this was done to and both surveys just about doubled from the wood boat survey. This is called cold molding process in boatbuilders terms. Many old boats are done like this all the time. Both boats are charter boats and fish 150 + days a year. You have to dry the boat out for about 3 to 6 months or longer. Fill any gaps with thickned epoxy resin b4 you start covering with the glass. To carry it one farther you do the same thing on the inside but with 1 layer. This total seals the dry wood to where you have a cored boat. It will be very strong and much more maintance freindly. Not much more in weight because on the dry vrs wet wood. Here are some links that might give you some information. http://www.jarrettbay.com/construction/construction.htm http://www.paulmanncustomboats.com/ http://www.everythingboats.com/boatbuildersforum/forum/bbs.pl?index

flashback · Feb 17, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

40 ft, I think you answered your own question in one of your above enteries "MY drive to cover her is to provide ""another"" 40 to 50 years. searching this forum will bring up so many posts on rotten wood in fibre glass boats. it kinda makes you wonder. what if in the construction of a fibre glass boat, you did not have to encapsulate the stringers or transoms? it is true, i have seen an old carver or chris being lifted out of the water, and as the lift began to raise the boat, the sides started to collapse. at that point the owner had to make up his mind weather to continue with the lift or put the boat back. in any case he did eventually get the boat out and repair it. If you take care of the wood boat it can last many life-times. I don't think you mentioned if you were in salt or fresh, If in salt I might consider glassing below the water line, but thats all just to keep the worms out.. In reference to Hawkeye, covering a wood boat with glass is not considered cold molding, rather cold molding is laminating thin strips of wood together to creat a seamless hull of sorts. basicly making your own plywood. this type of hull can be covered entirely with glass as it is stable.

crab bait · Feb 17, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

not to pound on HAWKEYE.. for his tip is valued.. but an 'old wooden boat' ,, 6 months to a year dry-out,, still wouldn't do it.. especially the damp (where-the-sun-don't-shine ) inside bowels of the craft.. plus if'n it were 100 % dry, then encapsulate with epoxy,, that's the worst thing of all.. wet wood don't rot,,( exceptions ) only dry wood rots.. hence ,'dry rot'.. wet wood that dried out ,,got wet again an dried out.. the rot causing moluclues are already in the wood.. so in boatbuildin' only kiln-dried new wood should only be used..

Hawkeye1 · Feb 17, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

My buddy used heaters and fans to dry out the 46'er and that was 2 years ago and he has no problems. His boat was a '76. He actually works for a custom boat builder on Hatteras island part time when he is not chartered. I am not sure but they might do something when they pull it to kill the rot enzimes like a boric acid bath but I really dont know about that. The other boat was a 43'er and it was done back around '95 or so and is up for sale. It was sold for 85K back then and now has a bid of 215K on it, but it has new power also. They do this kind of stuff all the time with old wooden charter boat down where I fish. Salt water kind of pickles the wood. I left the couble links for him to call to the guy that do this stuff al the time. If it were me and thats a classic and you want a fg boat then I would sell it as a classic and buy the fg boat with what you get out of it and the money it would cost you to glass in the old boat. There are lots of older good fg cruisers around for fair money.

crab bait · Feb 18, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

thanks for commin' back an responding ,HAWK.. that's interestin'.. as i was writin' my piece,, i left out ( by accident ) that it really only pertains to freshwater,,for the most part.. cause as you say,,, the salt 'pickels' the wood.. still tho ,, freshwater/RAIN is in the bowels.. maybe ,, some treatment,'boric acid' wash or somthin' is availible... if so ,, that would do the trick..

Hawkeye1 · Feb 18, 2003

Re: thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

Hey crab bait, I just herd of the boric acid stuff in another tread somewhere else where someone was talking about killing the fungus that causes wood rot. I am not sure if my friend did any of that or not. Its really not that hard to get all the water out of the inside. These boats were made to where you can access most if not all of the bottom from the inside. A shop vac will get 90% of it then the heat and fan will get the rest. Here is a link to a web link of his boat. The 2nd link if it work is the 43'er I was talking about. Remember it sold for 85k in '95. Good discusion here crab bait. http://www.bigeyefish.com/default.asp?PageID=169189 http://www.jarrettbay.com/brokerage.asp?ID=154

thinking of covering my 40 foot wooden boat with some type of covering

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