Thread: Caulking/Splining a carvel hull

Okay, I get the picture a little better now.Could not see up close or past the red lead primer previously , hence my Jarrah comment.Seems more like Oregon with possibly some other species used in conjunction on the planking.Not to say all is lost, but you will need to make a call as to how much and far you would want to go with this.If you want to take it up to like the 'Emerald' level as shown previous, then it's a big call.My 'ol man has and continues to build outstanding boats and objects from things that anyone else would throw away.He loves to prove all the 'knockers' wrong and now at 80 years old, has not been beaten on any one of them as yet! CR

Originally Posted by Cool Runnings

Okay, I get the picture a little better now.Could not see up close or past the red lead primer previously , hence my Jarrah comment.Seems more like Oregon with possibly some other species used in conjunction on the planking.

That's right. I'd guess oregon plus some other pine. The planks that are goners are the other species. The oregon seems mostly fine.

Originally Posted by Cool Runnings

Not to say all is lost, but you will need to make a call as to how much and far you would want to go with this.

I think we're looking at three planks needing replacement. Is that really such a big job?

Originally Posted by carmen

It would be a good idea to pull the hull into shape before turning her over, with whatever means you have at your disposal, bulkhead, ring frame whatever, once splined it will be really difficult to pull her back into shape.

She isn't out of shape, she's perfectly fine. Somebody earlier in the thread declared that she is all out of shape, but I have no idea how they assessed that. I've measured her, and she's lovely. She doesn't look out of shape, and her framing doesn't betray any stresses.

Her faults are three planks that need replacing, and a couple of others that need trimming and splining, or replacing - but I don't know which. And some ribs need sistering due to dry rot from a leaking deck. They haven't moved, but they're not integral any longer.

I presume you have your boat on a mooring. Did you epoxy and glass the outside? How has she coped with the splining?

Originally Posted by aquinian

That's right. I'd guess oregon plus some other pine. The planks that are goners are the other species. The oregon seems mostly fine.




I think we're looking at three planks needing replacement. Is that really such a big job?

Replacement of 3 planks is certainly not a dealbreaker at all.

Seems you have also identified some dodgey ribs, where you can laminate some new ones adjacent.

Go for it!

If you're looking back in her Aquinian, this looks like it'd be a good option for cutting your spline lines in the hull - it'd certainly have been ideal for my strip planked hull when I was fixing the failed glue lines with splines. Has a 25.4mm cut depth:

Originally Posted by aquinian

She isn't out of shape, she's perfectly fine. Somebody earlier in the thread declared that she is all out of shape, but I have no idea how they assessed that. I've measured her, and she's lovely. She doesn't look out of shape, and her framing doesn't betray any stresses.

Her faults are three planks that need replacing, and a couple of others that need trimming and splining, or replacing - but I don't know which. And some ribs need sistering due to dry rot from a leaking deck. They haven't moved, but they're not integral any longer.

I presume you have your boat on a mooring. Did you epoxy and glass the outside? How has she coped with the splining?

the splining was successful, afterwards we sheathed the hull with 2 layers of 5mm quandong, then one layer of plain weave and a second layer of biaxial, bit different from what you have in mind. The engine reinstallation has just been completed and we are about 12 months away still from launching, I'll look for some photo's of the splining and post them up.As far as the ribs are concerned we scarfed in 63 new sections rather than sistering.

Originally Posted by aquinian

She isn't out of shape, she's perfectly fine. Somebody earlier in the thread declared that she is all out of shape, but I have no idea how they assessed that. I've measured her, and she's lovely. She doesn't look out of shape, and her framing doesn't betray any stresses.

Her faults are three planks that need replacing, and a couple of others that need trimming and splining, or replacing - but I don't know which. And some ribs need sistering due to dry rot from a leaking deck. They haven't moved, but they're not integral any longer.

I presume you have your boat on a mooring. Did you epoxy and glass the outside? How has she coped with the splining?

may have been my fault - I didn't mean that she was actually out of shape, more that you'd want to check and if necessary square her up or make any adjustments to the shape if need be before doing anything with splining, new bulkheads, glassing etc as they'll set the shape pretty rigidly once done - so if it's out in any way at all you'd be stuck with it when you flip her back again.

Thanks guys.

Oh my, 63 new sections of rib....

Guys, I am checking this thread but I started one on the woodenboat forum (I won't put a link here in case they don't like it) as well, at the same time I started this one, and it's a lot busier forum, so rather than try and update two threads, I think I'll post progress updates and questions over there.

I should mention, I have now secured a Swan River mooring so I'm not going to spline her, rather I am going to stick with her traditional construction and re-caulk her.

Originally Posted by aquinian

Thanks guys.

Oh my, 63 new sections of rib....

Guys, I am checking this thread but I started one on the woodenboat forum (I won't put a link here in case they don't like it) as well, at the same time I started this one, and it's a lot busier forum, so rather than try and update two threads, I think I'll post progress updates and questions over there.

I should mention, I have now secured a Swan River mooring so I'm not going to spline her, rather I am going to stick with her traditional construction and re-caulk her.

I spend more time on the WBF than on here and have just seen your thread over there. My only bit of advice is don't believe everything you read over there - there are some rather opinionated Yanks who'd have you believe that they're the experts on all subjects and that anyone who doesn't agree with them is a fool or worse (I'm thinking of one in particular who's sign-in resembles a brand of vehicle). Not saying he's necessarily wrong, but take whatever advice you find over (as anywhere) there for what it may be worth and make up your own mind on what will suit you best. There's always more than one way to skin a cat and in this case no solution is necessarily more correct or right than any other.

Thanks Larks, yep, got the message.

This boat is now available for adoption by another enthusiast.

I have acquired an even lovelier little ship, requiring less work - an Arthur Bishop 33' launch. I don't have the time to look after both boats. I'll post some photos later for your viewing pleasure.