Hi
I have become involved in repair work on my son in laws recently acquired 1960ish 60ft converted fishing boat. The construction looks like the planking has hard joints (no cotton. caulking/putty). The planking has expanded pulling away from the ribs(you can get your hand between the planks and ribs) this has pulled some of the screws/nails through the planks causing leaks and from that some rotten and broken ribs.
If we stop the leaks will the planking dry and go back to it's original position?
Some work has already been done where sister ribs have been installed. They look horrible and I would rather not go the sister rib way.
I had thought to pull the planking to it's correct place, remove the damaged sections of ribs and rebuild with a laminated epoxy/fiber glass section.
I am doubtful that i can get the planks back to there right place until until they dry out with out running a saw through the joint then caulking. is an acceptable procedure?
Is it ok to bond the rib to the hull with epoxy?
Is this problem common with this type of construction?
Thanks
Kev