Lightly used wooden dinghy maintenance?
Discussion
I am an experienced dinghy sailor but, with the exception of the family's Mirror when I was 7, have never owned a wooden boat. Although I'm more into competing in cars, I still occasionally race my Laser from when I was 14 (I'm now 47!). My dad still races 3 times a week in folkboats. *
Anyway, if quite like to get my kids into sailing. They were booked on a week long training session last year, but covid cancelled it. So I thought I'd buy something tame for us to potter about on. Maybe race a bit. Something like a firefly or graduate. Needs to be under 14ft to fit in our shed. The laser is an inch too long. GP14 and Wayfarer sized boats too big.
I keep seeing beautiful wooden boats for low prices, c1k, storefront in good condition.
I know that they are often older designs and not competitive but that's ok. More importantly, my head says they need a lot of looking after but I wonder if that's true? And they are so pretty!
How often would you need to revarnish/ paint a 60s/ 70s wooden dinghy, assuming it's used less than 10 times per year, stored in inside and dry and you used modern materials?
Also, how much sanding do they need before repainting/ varnishing? Is it a big job?
Thanks
Anyway, if quite like to get my kids into sailing. They were booked on a week long training session last year, but covid cancelled it. So I thought I'd buy something tame for us to potter about on. Maybe race a bit. Something like a firefly or graduate. Needs to be under 14ft to fit in our shed. The laser is an inch too long. GP14 and Wayfarer sized boats too big.
I keep seeing beautiful wooden boats for low prices, c1k, storefront in good condition.
I know that they are often older designs and not competitive but that's ok. More importantly, my head says they need a lot of looking after but I wonder if that's true? And they are so pretty!
How often would you need to revarnish/ paint a 60s/ 70s wooden dinghy, assuming it's used less than 10 times per year, stored in inside and dry and you used modern materials?
Also, how much sanding do they need before repainting/ varnishing? Is it a big job?
Thanks
- I include life story as when I last asked a dinghy question on here someone assumed I'm a beginner and spent a lot of time demonstrating that they didn't know as much as I do.
I’m in a similar situation, but with a little wooden dinghy experience.
We had a composite Wayfarer when I was growing up, and in about 5 years it didn’t need anything doing. That was kept outside with polycotton cover in the summer, and garaged in the winter.
Then my Dad had a composite Solo, kept the same way, after 2 years the varnish started delaminating. He got it done professionally and was ~£1500, but that was probably 2002.
More recently, about 9 years ago I bought a wooden enterprise to teach my wife to sail. What appeared to be a very minor grey spot on the varnish near the centreboard casing on the inside, with no evident problems on the painted underside, turned out to be a be a previous repair, filler under the paint on the outside, and it soaked up a little bit of rainwater that into it like a sponge. It was beyond what I could repair, and after trying to sell it, then give it away with no interest, it got the chainsaw treatment when we moved house. I won’t be buying a wooden boat again...
We had a composite Wayfarer when I was growing up, and in about 5 years it didn’t need anything doing. That was kept outside with polycotton cover in the summer, and garaged in the winter.
Then my Dad had a composite Solo, kept the same way, after 2 years the varnish started delaminating. He got it done professionally and was ~£1500, but that was probably 2002.
More recently, about 9 years ago I bought a wooden enterprise to teach my wife to sail. What appeared to be a very minor grey spot on the varnish near the centreboard casing on the inside, with no evident problems on the painted underside, turned out to be a be a previous repair, filler under the paint on the outside, and it soaked up a little bit of rainwater that into it like a sponge. It was beyond what I could repair, and after trying to sell it, then give it away with no interest, it got the chainsaw treatment when we moved house. I won’t be buying a wooden boat again...
If you want the wooden boat aesthetics + low purchase cost but not as much maintenance, how about an early GRP Scorpion? I had one about ten years ago as the first boat I ever owned. They are exactly 14 ft long and will give you more excitement than a Firefly plus you can teach the kids how to set a spinnaker. Mine was home built in the early 70s with wooden decks, I think I paid about £400 including a combi trailer.
It all depends on the condition you buy it in, and the use/abuse it gets!
In good condition, varnish just needs a good cutting with 280 grit and careful refinishing. Buy something with water under the varnish - its back to bare wood - which probably means a mix of stripper and sanding. Not a great deal of work, but it does take time and a bit of care.
Somewhat more modern boats like a Miracle, if the timber was epoxy coated and that was then protected with UV resistant varnish, might last forever (well they won't because there will be areas of abrasion etc. Kept in a really dry place good quality boats can last a long time - much longer than kids!
In good condition, varnish just needs a good cutting with 280 grit and careful refinishing. Buy something with water under the varnish - its back to bare wood - which probably means a mix of stripper and sanding. Not a great deal of work, but it does take time and a bit of care.
Somewhat more modern boats like a Miracle, if the timber was epoxy coated and that was then protected with UV resistant varnish, might last forever (well they won't because there will be areas of abrasion etc. Kept in a really dry place good quality boats can last a long time - much longer than kids!
also look at a National-12.
roomier and more fun than a graduate - yes Ive had both.
you can get a lovely mid-80 wooden Crusader or something like that for absolute sweeties these days.
Most of these N12's have been owned by caring owners and are still in stunning condition.
get one the right age and you can exploit the aged handicaps at club level and have something that allows you to be competitive against almost anything at your club.
12's have a reputation of being twitchy and unstable - try one before you "assume" that - I never found my Crusader anything but fun - not once did it ever get the wrong side of exciting!
roomier and more fun than a graduate - yes Ive had both.
you can get a lovely mid-80 wooden Crusader or something like that for absolute sweeties these days.
Most of these N12's have been owned by caring owners and are still in stunning condition.
get one the right age and you can exploit the aged handicaps at club level and have something that allows you to be competitive against almost anything at your club.
12's have a reputation of being twitchy and unstable - try one before you "assume" that - I never found my Crusader anything but fun - not once did it ever get the wrong side of exciting!
My only experience of wooden boats was restoring a knackered Mirror years ago. Spent far more on sanders, varnish and epoxy than on the boat itself.
If your boat is lightly used and stored inside, is there not a danger of drying out and seams opening? My understanding is that wooden boats like to be kept moist.
If your boat is lightly used and stored inside, is there not a danger of drying out and seams opening? My understanding is that wooden boats like to be kept moist.
Ayahuasca said:
My only experience of wooden boats was restoring a knackered Mirror years ago. Spent far more on sanders, varnish and epoxy than on the boat itself.
If your boat is lightly used and stored inside, is there not a danger of drying out and seams opening? My understanding is that wooden boats like to be kept moist.
I don't know if that applies to plywood boats but my dad's friends fill their X boats up with water every now and again to make them swell and seal. If your boat is lightly used and stored inside, is there not a danger of drying out and seams opening? My understanding is that wooden boats like to be kept moist.
The reason for keeping it indoors would be sailing club moring fees. In the past I've made the mistake of calculating the cost per sail for lightly used boats....
Edited by Duke Caboom on Monday 3rd May 17:12
Edited by Duke Caboom on Monday 3rd May 19:20
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