Sea Bird 3.2 restoration

**Poppy** · 17th April 2015, 12:53 PM

I need some help in repairing a little utility dinghy I have just bought. Really got it for the sail and mast for a future project but hull is too good to just throw away though its reasonably heavy at 65kg.

The Seabird 3.2 is fibreglass boat produced by Dinghy Developments in Auckland New Zealand in the 1980.

This one was probably stored upside down because all the gunwales and outboard bracket have all rotted away.

I'm not even sure of the actual dimensions of the gunwale but the seats etc. are clear grained and light coloured and varnished to a pale honey colour. Density is about 503kg/m3 or 31lb/ft3.

Is this likely to be Qld Hoop pine ? or similar NZ timber ?

Picture on the left is what I'm aiming for. Picture on right is what I have.

seabird 3.2b.JPG seabird 3.2a.JPG

The new gunwale has to be bent to fit the sheerline as well as the very tight (bathtub like) curve towards the bow.

There is also not a lot of fibreglass strength in the gunwale flange so I cant form it in situ on the hull as you would with a wooden boat.

I presume the original was steam bent on a mould then mated up to the hull later on. I can try to replicate this process and perhaps laminate the required thickness 2' ? (x 1' thick?) out of 1/2' staves.

But before I start is there a simpler solution.

Ian

**Poppy** · 26th November 2015, 09:55 AM

Ended ended up laminating the gunwhale using 3 layers of 6mm ply and sheathing it all round in fibreglass before epoxy isn't to hull. Probably more workman-like than craftsman-like but still looks okay and did the job. Seats are kauri.

the 6mm marine ply from Bunnings is a bit heavier than say gaboon but not that heavy relative to other types. It worked well, didn't chip out on the edges, had no voids, and unlike some Pac Maple I was offered comprised 5 equal layers with the same quality material throughout. It is quite tough. Even if a bit heavier it might be worth considering for the bottom sheeting of a dinghy where extra toughness is required.

Density and quality of ply varies quite a bit but these are the figures I worked from. Happy to be corrected if anyone has better information.

Bunnings (measured from my sheet) 644 Kg/m3
Pac Maple (average of wide range of quoted densities from one suppliers website) 643 Kg/m3
Hoop pine (average from same website) 700Kg/m3
Mahogany (from off-cut I have. U.nfortunately not available any more) 553 Kg/m3
Gaboon (average from same Website) 573 Kg/m3

**Poppy** · 26th November 2015, 10:20 AM

Sorry, forgot how to add attachments, this how it turned out in the end

**Cool Runnings** · 27th November 2015, 07:19 PM

Real sweet!-The Gunwale work looks to me, worth the effort.

I think it sets the boat off very well.

Great job.

**Poppy** · 30th November 2015, 11:44 AM

Thanks, glad you like it. Taking the grandkids (4 and 6) for ( their first ever) sail in her over Christmas.

**Poppy** · 16th January 2016, 08:58 PM

Mission accomplished

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