Posted by Pete on 04/17/07 - 7:44 AM
#1
Hello, After a whaler has dried out, is there anything which can or should be done as far as treatment of any wood that got wet? I know it would be tough to get through the foam to the wood.
I also read that some worry less about a fresh water boat as opposed to a salt water used boat. Does this make a difference with wet wood - fresh vs salt?
After a boat is dry is the wood more likley to dry rot ? And again, fresh vs salt use?
It seems there are many boats out there which have had water intrusion at one time or another.
I guess I trying to figure out what significant damage can be done by water intrusion into the hull.
I dont read of any transom problems. I believe most water would eventually settle in the bottom of the boat and to the stern if the bow is higher.
How is the transom constructed? Is the wood in the encased in the glass?
Pete
Posted by Tom W Clark on 04/18/07 - 5:15 AM
#2
Pete,
Once wood has dried out, it is no more likely to rot than wood that has never gotten wet.
Salt water is believed to be less damaging because the salt tends to inhibit dry rot in wood. It makes no difference to the foam and fiberglass.
The transom of a Whaler is made of layers of plywood fully encased in 'glass and resin. Rotten Whaler transoms are very rare, even when wet.
Dry rot needs oxygen (air) to proliferate. Because the Whaler transom is so thoroughly unified with 'glass and resin, it tends to be a fairly anaerobic environment that is highly rot resistant.
Now having said all that, my experience that once a Whaler hull has gotten wet, it does NOT just "dry out". Local areas can dry out over time but once the foam core has become saturated, it is not going to just dry out nor will the water simply drain out a hole drilled in the bottom.
Over time, and I mean months or years, water can migrate through the foam core to some degree but there is no quick fix to a soggy Whaler.
And yes, most Whalers have some amount of water in their hulls, but the quantities are usually very small and localized, being restricted to small areas such as screw holes drilled in the transom for transducers or battery hold-downs in the floor.
Edited by Tom W Clark on 04/18/07 - 5:21 AM
Posted by Pete on 04/18/07 - 6:00 AM
#3
Thanks Tom, I needed the positive reinforcement.
I do believe I made a good purchase. My 84 Montauk will be with me a long time.
Probably outlast me.
Pete
Posted by CES on 04/27/07 - 11:45 AM
#4
Wow, I hope my 13' ft Whaler isn't water logged. How can you tell if it is or not?