fixing a plywood boat.

**rad...** · 26th July 2009, 12:26 AM

Hi all, just have a quick qestion for all you wise ones out there.
My mate has a plywood boat that he said i could have to fix up because it'll just rot away otherwise, its a realy nice looking boat and i would love to fix it, but the only thing i can see being a problem is that the plywood is starting to delaminate and i would like some help as to wether or not i could put some epoxy glue under it then clamp it back down somehow. it looks to be well constructed but not well looked after, the varnish is all peeled off. it looks to me like it was built with 6 or 8 inch wide strips of wood laminated on a 45* angle and i'm guessing about 3 layers, there are no frames, ribs or stringers. it has abit of a deck around the side (is that called a gunwale??)and at the front. the boat is about 20' long about 5' wide and would take an outboard motor (and oars). If we decide it is fixable then i'll see if i can post up some pics. cheers guys, thanks in advance for all the replies, hints and tips that i just know your going to give!!
Cheerio!!

**honkongphoie** · 26th July 2009, 12:48 AM

if you could get some pictures up i'm sure that would be of great help for the diagnosis.

**PAR** · 26th July 2009, 02:25 AM

This sounds like one of the "cold molded" methods, which is a very good technique for a light weight boat. I use the "Ashcroft" version of this technique all the time, as it produces a strong light hull, very quickly.

It's not common to see them in multiple layers of plywood, though there are a few. Most of the time they use veneers.

At 20', it's very possible they used three layers of 3 mm ply, each perpendicular to the previous layer.

You need to figure out what you have first, by carefully examining a core sample or looking at hull penetrations. This will determine if you have veneers or plywood.

In both cases, it should be possible to glue down the wayward layers. Unfortunately, with a molded hull (round bilge) you'll have to develop a way of maintaining the hull shape as the glue (epoxy) cures. In other words, any distortions induced as a result of clamping, to hold the layers together as the glue cures, will remain after then clamps are released.

Pictures would be very helpful.

**rad...** · 29th July 2009, 09:49 AM

Thanks guys, will try and get some photos up as soon as i can, dont hold your breath though coz i'll have to borrow a camera. 'watch this space'!!!

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