What rot?

**Sailandoar** · 19th July 2010, 12:10 PM

Greetings

This is my first post, and it's about advice on possible rot in the hull of a Hartley 18.

I'm looking at purchasing this boat - which is one of the original Mark 1 types. Comes with a great range of gear, but the hull has been knocked about a bit. On close inspection it feels solid, but you'll see from the accompanying photos the extent of water damage and wear and tear.

First of all, images of water damage near the centrecase join - only on the starboard side, the port side is bone dry. And it's wet where the electric bilge is located.

Here:

Attachment 142115

And here:

Attachment 142116

The damage on the keel is:

Here:

Attachment 142117

And here:

Attachment 142118

And here:

Attachment 142119

I keen to hear your opinions as to whether the damage is fixable with the: heat gun, scraper, epoxy + timber preservative (BoteCote TPRDA), tape method.

**jmk89** · 19th July 2010, 02:37 PM

Welcome to the forums, Sailandoar, I am sure you will find lots of interesting and helpful people and information here.

Your post seems to suggest that there are photos for us to look at. Unfortunately they don't seem to have made it through to the Forum. I suggest reading the second half of this post (ignore the stuff on selling in the Market Place, but red the stuff on posting pictures)

**Sailandoar** · 19th July 2010, 09:46 PM

I've added the photos now.

Does anyone have any advice about the apparent condition of the wood in the photos?

Any help greatly appreciated.

**mob** · 20th July 2010, 03:34 PM

I'll leave the advice to others who will be along shortly. I'm interested to know the name of the boat though.

**Sailandoar** · 20th July 2010, 03:39 PM

It's a Hartley 18 called "I'm a woody 2"

**PAR** · 20th July 2010, 05:25 PM

That appears to be mold spores, not rot at the bilge pump. Pour straight bleach on the area, scrub with a brush, rinse and dry, then have another look. If it's mold, it'll be gone or nearly so after this treatment. Any damaged wood will remain.

The keel does have some rot in it and likely also under the sheathing surrounding the damaged areas. How much is the question, because the sheathing will mask this. The best course is to grind back the sheathing in the general area, until you find solid wood again. Cut out the bad wood, replace it with scabbed in good pieces, then resheath the area again. In the process of removing the surround sheathing you should be able to tell how badly the water got under the 'glass and if this caused other, unseen damage.

TPRDA is unnecessary, though you'll use a fair bit of BoteCote gluing, sheathing and coating things. A heat gun is of limited usefulness, but sometimes handy. A scraper is a most handy tool, usually better the sand paper.

**Sailandoar** · 20th July 2010, 08:42 PM

Thanks PAR

I think it's a case of plunge in - methodically - and see how it goes.

The boat itself is inherently solid, and doesn't smell 'bad' when I shove my nose in the dark corners.

Well built once, well maintained once, but knocked around.

So original it's got Tufnal winches....

Attachment 142188

Here it 'tis now:

Attachment 142189

We'll just have to see.

Thanks for the advice!

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