1912 Huon Pine Timber Sail Motor Boat

[Nicholson58]

Unless this is a precious museum piece......

[double u]

...in Germany such fibreglass sheathing is called “shroud“
the german word is very graphic & would translate into “corpse sheet“ (Leichentuch)

[Kokonut]

Thank you for the interest and the opinions expressed, some encouraging and some returning me to that dark moment after having finished the 'read' of the survey report. Rather than describe the boat, perhaps if I direct you to the site where I found her.

https://boats-from-au.com/not-specif...at-1912-213446

I am from Sydney, Australia, living on the Hawkesbury River. The boat is 36' and I wanted to use her solely on the river. Not venturing out into the open. I don't have deep pockets, but was always prepared to invest some money to give her a longer floating life for my family and I. I would like to hope I can get up to 5 years or more of boating from her, but I don't know if that is realistic.

The Surveyor did say that it was his responsibility to highlight these things in case the boat sank, and so I'm not quite sure, if that meant, she is 100% not use-able or if he was expected to say that as a forewarning in case it did. With pen in hand and scribbling his notes, he was very quickly turning into the grim reaper.

I'm not sure if this is permissible, but I am ok to share the Surveyors report after redacting the Surveyors details first.

Really appreciate the comments, in them, I have found many to shine a light of hope ... and others perhaps a thumping of reality.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by double u

...in Germany such fibreglass sheathing is called “shroud“
the german word is very graphic & would translate into “corpse sheet“ (Leichentuch)

Oh this is so true.

[Tillsbury]

Also of interest on YouTube would be Acorn to Arabella. Although they're building a new boat they do in the middle buy an old wooden boat and strip it. They got a heap of useful timber and fittings, but it was a fairly nice boat to start with, and quite original. The dismantling showed how terminal everything out of sight had got. In the end the hull and keel timbers just fell apart once the interior had been removed.

[Kokonut]

Hi all, I have posted a reply, however it appears my post has been directed for moderator approval. I'm thinking it might be the URL link I placed in there showing the details of the boat in question.

[Wotname]

^^ looking forward to seeing the link (hurry up mods )!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Wotname

^^ looking forward to seeing the link (hurry up mods )!

Sorry, busy cooking sausages for breakfast and a cup of tea of course

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Kokonut

..........

I'm not sure if this is permissible, but I am ok to share the Surveyors report after redacting the Surveyors details first.

.........

AFAIK, if you paid for the survey, it is yours and you can do whatever you want with it.

FWIW, from the link, it looks nice!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Sorry, busy cooking sausages for breakfast and a cup of tea of course

Don't you mean bangers and a cuppa?

[Hardhead]

I believe wooden boats are beautiful, and have a very unique character. The only downside is the ongoing maintenance is substantial, and fundamentally required. If it wasn't - I'd have one instead of fiberglass - in a second. I give enormous well earned credit to anyone who undertakes it - they are a special breed in this day and age. Back when every minute of the day wasn't pulled in 2 different directions, it was just part of the routine. Now, it's just been prioritized down for most people when looking at boats - it's good some people still undertake it.

[skipmac]

Hi Kokonut,


The formal survey could be useful but rereading your original post, depending on the extent of the issues you mention, several of those could most definitely sink a boat.


More comments below.

Originally Posted by Kokonut

I am from Sydney, Australia, living on the Hawkesbury River. The boat is 36' and I wanted to use her solely on the river. Not venturing out into the open. I don't have deep pockets, but was always prepared to invest some money to give her a longer floating life for my family and I. I would like to hope I can get up to 5 years or more of boating from her, but I don't know if that is realistic.


Again, it depends very much on the extent of the problems you reported. Wood turned to cornflakes, if just a couple of centimeters and not in a critical location, cut out and fill with epoxy and you're good for a few years.



"Some of the planking not fastened to the frame." This could be localized and fixable by adding a few new fasteners (bronze, do NOT use stainless steel scews below the waterline in a wood boat) but that could also be indicative of the fasteners all over the boat deteriorating requiring all to be redone. If that is the case you could spend a thousand or so just buying all the bronze screws you would need. Further, a boat that age might have been refastened already in the past which may leave very little room for adding yet another round of screws.



Bottom line, you absolutely could get five years or even 25 years more service from the boat but at what cost? My initial thought is it would be faster, easier and cheaper to do some wood repair than to glass the hull. Also if you do glass the hull you would still have to make underlying wood bits structurally sound so any place the planks are falling away or similar would have to be repaired to some degree. Unless you added many layers of glass, enough to make a new hull, just a layer or two would only reduce leaks from outside into the hull and contribute very little strength.

You really need to look more closely and confirm how far the damage extends. It could be OK or it could be a rightoff.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

No word from Kokonut yet, I wonder if he has just realised that he has purchased someones nightmare and now he has to dispose of her?
Cheers

Unfortunately, I believe you are correct. I wonder if there is something in his area he could donate it to? Probably unlikely.

[double u]

The phrase “to throw good money after bad“ seems to have been coined for such situations...

[captlloyd]

As you have already purchased the boat the question is can you repair it at reasonable cost. First thing to do is have the boat hauled for a hull inspection. Your expectations as far as use is reasonable, no offshore use. You do not mention your willingness or ability to work on the boat, an important factor. Can you find a woodworker in your area willing to work on the boat at a reasonable rate ? Can the boat be patched back together to last a few years of gentle use ? Yes, you could fiberglass below the waterline to achieve water tightness. Actually it looks like a pretty clean boat, only you can determine the answers to the questions I pose, only you can determine if it is worth the costs. Good luck !