What you should know about buying a timber boat
The Surveyor* offers his top tips and expert advice about buying a timber boat and becoming a custodianThe charm of owning a piece of maritime history, the elegance of cruising the waterways in a classic hand-built boat from yesteryear, which turns heads at every bend, sounds very appealing.
But the Gin and Tonics with cucumber sandwiches soon become hard to swallow when the vessel turns out to be full of rot, worm. or even hogged (as in the nautical terms for a hull that arches upwards in the middle and sags at the ends).
I have been fortunate to cross paths on many occasions with one timber boat owner who just happened to run this country at the time. This PM simply said to me one day: "Gavin you own a timber boat, you are a custodian."
I must admit at first it went in one ear and out the other, but as time went on it’s a phrase I echo on every timber boat I inspect.
YOU ARE THE CUSTODIAN
A custodian, you murmur, what is he on about?
Well, it’s a fact that you become an owner of a piece of maritime history when you buy a classic timber boat.
She would have been built when labour was cheap and materials were plentiful. Boat yards had time on their side to produce one-off gems of the ocean.
Now, you as the present-day owner, have the responsibility of preserving this history in the only way you can, that is, maintaining her to the highest standards.
Each time a vessel is sold it is handed down and you can only hope you have bought if from a custodian, not someone that has dodged the not-inconsiderable maintenance that goes with owning a timber boat.
TIMBER BOAT-BUYING TIPS
It might be stating the obvious, but owning a timber boat required a lot more upkeep that maintaining today’s modern-day composite — or "plastic" as wooden boat owners call them — wonders.
Here are some tips for buying a timber boat:
>> Ask for the service history. This will show repairs, refits, restorations and so on. A custodian will have this well documented as it has probably almost cost his and/or her marriage at some point.
>> Ask the local boat yard if they know anything. Most yards have very good recollection of timber boats in their bay and will talk for hours if they know something about the particular boat.
>> Engage a qualified marine surveyor. Engaging the services of a qualified surveyor with a timber boatbuilding or restoration background is very important. Expect to pay well above the standard rate for a timber inspection (those surveyors that charge the same rate as any old boat are not offering you the right service and my advice is to stay clear). To perform a proper in- and out-of-water inspection on a timber boat takes double the man hours.
>> Be prepared to spend money. Congratulations, you are now a custodian.
KEEPING THE ROMANCE ALIVE
Your dreamboat has been inspected and you are now the custodian.
So here are some basic tips to ensure you keep the romance alive
>> Saltwater is your friend. Fresh water is your enemy.
> Keep your bilges clean of debris. Your timber boat contains limber holes that allow all water to flow to the lowest point to be pumped out. These must be clear.
>> Maintain proper paint and varnish coatings. The humble paint brush is now your number one tool, remember the primary purpose of paint is to protect, its secondary purpose is to look good. If the timber is bare, paint it!
>> If you find rot get onto early. Often a simple repair can be achieved early. It won’t repair itself or get better over time, so get to it.
>> Have your professional repairer have a look over her every year on the slips. He or she has the trained eye to see what you cannot or are blind to seeing. Loose or sprung planks can be tightened before they become a disaster, and caulking will be required annually, so allow a little in your budget each year.
> Tidy up any loose or disconnected wiring on the electrical system laying in the bilges. Timber boats have many fastenings that draw in current and get eaten away by stray currents. Wet timber is a very good conductor. (A timber boat surveyor will spray vinegar around stern tubes, shaft logs and rudder glands to find activity).
FOR THE LOVE OF TIMBER
Remember, timber boat repairs can be expensive and you will need to be prepared to pay for the privilege of being a classic-boat custodian.
Usually, you cannot buy a replacement item for your boat at your local hardware store, for it is handmade by a highly skilled crafts-person, often whittled away from a lump of lumber with precise love and care. This is the same love and care you have for your new passion.
Timber boats are something I am very passionate about and luckily enough I spent a good part of my life in this industry with some true wooden boatbuilding legends.
There are many great experts around in this area, so do your homework, listen to the experts, and you will be enjoying the cucumber sandwiches and G&Ts with delight for years to come.
*Gavin Clark is a contributor at boatsales.com.au and BoatPoint.com.au who writes under the pseudonym 'The Surveyor'. He is a shipwright and marine surveyor with a business called Slipstream Marine based in Sydney. Gavin has 28 years experience in the boating industry, is an avid boater and owner of a 33ft Sharpie (trawler). Gavin can be contacted at boatsurveying.com.au.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
