Mahogany boat in the Carribean

[nauticalnomad]

Anybody got any experience or thoughts on the outcome of moving my 45 year old mahogany cold moulded sailing boat to the carribean,
It is UK built and been acustomed to the cold and not so warm weather of both the Uk and Eu.

So what if any impact will the humidity and weather bestow onto the hull?

Ive been informed previously that cold weather and conditions preserves the deterioration of timber boats. The boat is painted and maintained etc
Also is it common of wood worm and other bugs getting access to the hull.
The hull as of last year was coated with wests epoxy and then epoxy primer and then 2 pack paint.
So there is plent of cover on the hull.
The only weak spot under the water line is where the keel joins the hull and there is always a crack along the join from the flexing of the boat. This i cannot seem to fix except for sikoflexing the seam.

[speciald@ocens.]

The tropical sun may also be a problem. From your questions - I assume that the boat topsides are not varnished. Varnish doesn't do well down here. Humidity isn't a problem, just the oposite; the sun will dry out the topsides and shrink the planks. Does your boat have a sacrificial "worm shoe"? You might want to join the Wooden Boat Magazine forum to check with other owners and their experiences.

[Geoduck]

I worked as a shipwright in Fla back in the 70's. I replaced alot of planks and frames in those days. Dry rot is your main concern. Bugs (worms) are also a concern. Keep the boat well ventilated and the bottom well coated. Keep out the fresh water and that's about it. Keeping the boat out of the direct sunlight will help protect the varnish. Not much else you can do except have fun!

[nauticalnomad]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

I worked as a shipwright in Fla back in the 70's. I replaced alot of planks and frames in those days. Dry rot is your main concern. Bugs (worms) are also a concern. Keep the boat well ventilated and the bottom well coated. Keep out the fresh water and that's about it. Keeping the boat out of the direct sunlight will help protect the varnish. Not much else you can do except have fun!

Yeah there is NO varnish, Well there is the toe capping etc that is it,
Anything else that is brown is just painted with deck paint looks like timber.
Varnishing is a nightmare....

[Geoduck]

I agree! We used to paint over varnish with flat white paint to protect it while out for the season - easily sanded off at the end of the season, add a new coat of varnish and good for another year.
My boat is all teak and I leave it in the raw except for the hull. I just wash it down with salt water and call it good. The only varnish on this boat is on the spars.

[Cavalo]

Hello,
What kind of paint did you use, and how many coats of varnish did you apply before painting?
We too are cruising to the tropics and don't want to have to varnish!
Thanks,
Lindsay

Home » Cavalo at Sea