Here are few tips to ensure that your Dabbie is well cared for.
Rot. Boatlife Git Rot Penetrating Epoxy How long a wooden boat survives depends almost entirely on how well the wood is protected.
Marine archaeologists are still finding the remains of wooden boats hundreds of years old. The reason these timbers haven’t rotted away, despite being under water is the absence of oxygen.
Most wood rot is caused by a fungus in the wood.
The most common form of deterioration in wood boats is misnamed dry rot.
For this to grow it needs moisture, oxygen and a warm environment.
While there are likely to be some rot spores in all wood their growth can be curtailed by a bit of boat care and eliminating the conditions that allow them to grow.
Bare wood will absorb the moisture which attracts rot so keep it painted or varnished.
Good ventilation is a major part of boat care.
Airing all any enclosed spaces will help prevent dampness from collecting, which is why open boats are less susceptible to rot than cabin cruisers.
All boats most at risk of from rot when they are not in use.
However the type of construction and bad design can lead to moisture being trapped.
Also some woods are more prone to rot than others.
Softer woods and those fast growing woods which have less resin and tightness of grain suffer more than older growth wood.
Storage. The vast majority of us are leisure boaters and our boats spend as much time in storage than in use.
Therefore boat care is important, take some care over the storage of your boat.
This is particularly true for wooden boats, though even plastic ones, despite popular opinion need boat care.
Wooden boats that remain afloat in salt water will tend to have less rot than boats in fresh water.
However, the majority of small boats are kept out of the water.
Boats stored on the beach or yard, even during the season should be propped up on blocks so that they are off the ground at least a few inches.
And cover her so as to keep the worst of the weather off, yet still allow air to circulate.
Try to keep her away from any shedding trees or where there is tall, wet grass that may come into contact with the wood.
And avoid keeping her close to an old wooden shed which might be a breading ground for rot spores.
Whether she is on blocks or on a trailer keep one end raised up to help shed rainwater.
Open the drain plug if there is one to allow any bilge water to drain.
On the other hand if you are keeping you boat indoors in a garage or shed be careful that the wood isn’t allowed to dry excessively.
Wherever you keep her check her periodically and allow the air to circulate through the interior.
It can be argued that a hull which is well protected with paint and varnish is better off without a cover.
However, varnish and paint will degrade more quickly when exposed.
Covers. A canvas cover will keep an open boat protected and looking good indefinitely.
It will protect her from the rain, sun, bird droppings, leaves and twigs.
However you must allow the boat to breathe.
If you wrap her tightly in plastic she is almost sure to become damp with condensation, encouraging rot to develop.
The ends must be kept open so air can circulate and moisture escape.
The cover should be kept clear of the wood using a framework.
Although reinforced plastic can be used as a cover, breathable canvas will allow moisture to evaporate when it is dry and the canvas will tighten up when it is wet to become water repellent.
And keep the cover in good shape, repair tears, rips and worn spots before they allow too much damp to damage to the boat.
Where a boat is stored under a cover in sunny climes it is best to avoid dark colored canvas, it will absorb heat that could cause excessive drying of the wood and cause seams to crack and open up.
The cover should be held in place with lines from grommets in the edge of the cover but these should be anchored to the ground and not to the boat or chocks.
If there is a windstorm it is better that the cover blows away than the boat is blown over.