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I noticed some cracked paint near my port chain plate last time I sailed my boat, and when I went prodding at it I realised that the strake was rotten and so was the frame behind it. The previous owner had just coated it in epoxy and the bottom of the frame had just turned into compost. I’m not sure how to approach repairing this if the boat is even worth it. I’ve attached a photograph of the rot.
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Oh dear!!!
Of course, in principle, the positive note is that any damage in a wooden boat is intrinsically repairable. But this looks like needing a major repair, and you are sensible to consider whether the boat is worth it.
First questions; age / sail number / anything special in the history of the boat / any personal emotional attachments to that particular boat? Any of these might potentially influence the decision as to whether the boat is worth the repair.
If she is to be repaired, the classic and traditional approach is to cut out all the rotten wood and replace with new, bonding it in, and adequately bonding to the surviving original structure. I rather suspect that this would be a fairly major job.
A more modern alternative, which can be useful if the damage is not too severe, is to use a penetrating epoxy to stabilise the rotted wood. Smith’s CPES is one such, and is a headline brand. However I would like to see further investigation, and more photos, before any of us could recommend whether that is likely to be successful.
On the positive front; nearly 20 years ago I heard of a seriously “ripe” classic yacht which had been returned to life and was now regularly sailing in Poole Harbour, after being thoroughly dried out and then treated with a penetrating epoxy.
But it looks like being a big job, whichever way you go, if you do decide to take it on.
Oliver
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