whats involved in wood boats

[shellfishshucker69]

what do u look for in buying a woodboat and what is involved in owning one as far as painting and putting back in the water and all the maintenence that goes along with it

[Tom Powers]

How big?

What type?

Stored indoors or outdoors?

Stored in the water or out of the water?

My experience is with small boats stored both in doors and out of doors.

Tom

[mikie]

The first thing to look for is rot. You need to look everywhere - get inside under the floor and check all of the interior bracing. If there is ANY rot, it will have to be completely removed and new wood put in - it's just like cancer, if you don't take it all out, it spreads! The next thing to check, if you're serious about buying it, is the condition of the fasteners holding the bottom planking. You should actually pull some of the fasteners out and check their overall condition. If the fasteners are deteriorated or loose, the whole bottom will have to be re-fastened! If the boat is on land, you won't be able to discover any leaks until it's back in the water. If it's been out for any amount of time, it will probably leak quite a bit until it swells back up. Then if it's still leaking, you'll have to pull it out again to re-caulk the seams. If it's in the water and you can take it for a test run, try to go on a fairly choppy day - pay attention to the way the boat "feels" when you're in rough water. If you can feel it twisting or giving, the hull fastenings are loose and should be fixed. The boat will have to be hauled out every year and any problems fixed and the bottom cleaned and re-painted. If you neglect this part, the boat will make you pay dearly later.
Wood boats need a lot of TLC. Some people love 'em and some people hate 'em. It depends on how much time and effort you're willing to invest.

[rappahanockman]

1) Get a survey done before you buy
2) Make sure there is a Boat Yard in your area that still has a knowledgable
"Wood Boat" man that can do your repairs. They all need some wood replaced
from time to time and it is getting harder and harder to find an expert.

[done workin]

Hey Jim

You're talking about Russ Green on the "Carol G" are you?

[Bob Alexander]

Blood Sweat and Tears + $$$$$$$ Brother and I have reworked 42' wooden deadrise built at Mariner's Museum 20+ years ago with total topside cousa/west system/awlgrip. final topcoat going on next week at York River Yacht Haven Marina...take a look when she comes out of the barn. We managed a little time off last Saturday with a trip to Cape Charles and boated two 38" stripers.

[gary49]

There are 3 wood boats in the in Ernie Foster's Albatross Fleet chartering out of Hatteras. They are round stern juniper boats built in Marshallsburg (sp?) N.C. The "new" one is the Albatross III. She was built in 1953. The Albatross II was built in 1948 and Ernie's Dad built the original Albatross in 1937 and she is the first boat ever built for the charter trade on the Outer Banks. She is still in service, although largely used for the inshore fishery, they do take her out to the stream at least once a year. They have all been given a coat of fiberglass, Ernie says the the first two boats needed it, but the III had only one small spot of rot when she was glassed in the late '90's. Wood boats can be great, but they are a lot of work. I like the old wooden workboats, but would be scared of any kind of factory built boat that had a lot of age on it, I could have had a 42' Owens with rebuilt 454's in it essentially for free a few years ago, but she was in bad shape and actually sank a couple of years ago on an ill-advised transit of the Chesapeake during stormy weather. On the other hand, a well built juniper deadrise makes a nice boat, just need to be committed (yep, you probably do need to be committed LOL) and know what you are doing.

[shellfishshucker69]

the boat is on land as of now and it really looks like its in good condition the lady is asking 3400 for it and thats about all i know other than it has a hydraulic line puller with it i really aint gonna pursue until after the first of the year or so due to the marina fees etc for all i know the boat could be in perfect condition and the lady is selling due to a death in the family. Speaking of marina fees does anyone know whethere or not u can a have a pole driven in the water in any of the local creeks public landings like the ones you see up shipping creek thompson creek goodhands creek etc the would definitely seem to be the most cost effective way of keeping one

[Tom Powers]

Have you got a digital camera. Post some pictures I bet you would get lots of Monday morning quarterback type advice. If nothing else it would give us all a boat to focus on.

Tom

[done workin]

Chris - That would be him. You are a great analyst. Have you fished with Capt'n Russ?

Haven't fished with him in a few years but yeah I've had the total pleasure of being on his boat about 4-5 times or so. People I work with have been going with him for probably the 15 or so at least once a year sometimes twice. I think the first year was the first year they opened rockfish season. He is an eeling GOD!!Simply awesome captain and easily one of the best on the upper bay.

I remember the year he had the boat pulled out and had it glassed over because he said that maintaining the pure painted hull was a PITA. He said ever since he had glassed it (Probably 9-10 years ago or so) yearly maintenance was much better.

Next time your with him, ask him if he remembers the guy who came with Jeff Walters and gang. who insisted on fishing with a 5 1/2' UL rod loaded with 6# line. It was a slow October day chumming and he agreed. A 25" and a 26" later and one lost after that (ALL my fault) I think I opened his eyes to light tackle. They were the biggest of the day.