Returning a Wooden Boat to the Water

There are few objects as handsome as a traditionally built wooden boat. Owning and sailing one can be a joy, and a wooden boat can have an intangible draw that can cloud the judgment of even the most cautious mariner.

Although most old boats need some sort of repairs, the question is not whether a boat can be fixed. Anything can be fixed. The question is, do you really want to fix it? How much time do you have? How much money? When do you want to get it in the water? This is not to suggest that you shouldn’t tackle a major boat-restoration project, but rather to offer guidance on making that choice, and seeing it through.

Boatbuilding is a bit like assembling a jigsaw puzzle; repair, however, involves plucking random pieces out of the completed puzzle, replicating them, and replacing them. It can be tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. Fortunately, we have tools, techniques, and materials that did not exist when the boat was built.

The Initial Inspection

A professional survey by a knowledgeable professional is always advisable—especially if you are investing considerable funds in your project. But there is much sleuthing you can do on your own to winnow the wheat from the chaff, before you get to the survey stage. Approach the prospect as a skeptical observer. Don your overalls and arm yourself with a notebook, a flashlight, and an ice pick for probing wood softness (carefully used and, if shopping, only with the owner’s permission). Also bring a mallet for checking for the “ring” of solid wood, and an extra-sharp eye to check for twists, sags, lumps, and other general unfairness. Take notes and photos, and bring along a good dose of critical thought—as well as an open mind.

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