convert a wooden boat to fiberglass??

[Frizbee]

To make a long story short, I’m inheriting a 113 foot wooden gullet. I have only had a chance to see this thing once as that it is currently down in the Virgin Islands. It’s long over due to be pulled and the hull painted. My question is, how long do wooden hulls last, and is it possible to convert the hull to fiberglass if I decided to keep it? I’ve considered converting this thing to be a home. I’m trying to bring down the long term costs of maintenance. Can you just convert the wooden planks to fiberglass ones? I have no clue how boats are built, about the stress these materials are under.

[Hunter25]

The USS Constitution is 210 years old and most of her structure is original.

Care is the only thing that keeps them alive.

The costs in keeping a yacht as large as yours can be astounding. The slip fees alone will rival a hefty mortgage annually.

There is no magic formula to preserve old wooden boats, only a strictly followed maintenance schedule will keep her in good shape. This means having her hauled for paint jobs every couple of years, annual layup and commissioning costs, repairs, upgrades and replacements.

It is not cheap to berth a boat that is about a third of a football field (American) long, for a long term live aboard life style. Very little about living on a large yacht is inexpensive.

[Frizbee]

storage is not a problem, my famly has a boat house up here, and my uncle chuck had a small dock off his home down south.

[sal's Dad]

Consider spending a few hundred dollars on a professional survey, before you do ANYTHING. It will be the best money you have ever spent. You could easily spend a few hundred thousand on a major overhaul (such as sheathing it in fiberglass). Even relatively minor items will cost in the tens of thousands.

People can keep boats for relatively little money, but only if they are resourceful, knowledgeable, and experienced. In any case, if you keep this boat, it will (for better or worse) become the focus of the vast majority of your time, money, and energy. Make friends with a really good wooden boat guy.

[frosh]

You need to ask yourself these three questions and probably a few more as well to help you decide what to do.
(1) Am I financially well off enough to spend a very significant amount on initial refurbishment, and then a significant amount very regularly for ongoing maintenance; and if yes, do I want to?
(2) Do I have a real passion for old wooden boats or even a very strong interest?
(3) What will I use the boat for, and will there be a willing group of people to come with me to share the experience? Generally taking out a 100ft. boat on your own, even if safe to do so is a very lonely experience.

If the answer to any one of the three questions is a probable NO, then I advise don't get involved with this one.

[dem45133]

My opinion for whatever its worth... is to leave the boat as original as possible. Fiberglassing over a planked haul sounds dangerous to me... trapping water (soon to be rot). Best to keep it original and within its design.

I'd say that "sal's Dad" and "frosh" have VERY VALID points. Any boat of that size class... has voracious appetites for just about everthing.

I might be wrong, but you sound young... if your family is into boats (sounds like it) and you have been blessed with the ability to be a user of them but not connected with their costs and maint... ask some of your family on just what it takes. You may be surprised... maybe not.

[cburgess]

Glass and wood don't do well together...wood moves and glass doesn't.

FRG is also hazardous to the health of the builder...toxic fumes...a lot of mess.

Wood can last several generations, and the maintenance is no more than modern materials. Wood is also easier to repair than FRG. Wood is very forgiving to work with and maintain.

Keep her original...keep her wood.

Check out some of the WoodenBoat publications and books.

[ChrisF]

If it's in the tropics and it's long overdue to have its wood bottom painted, for sure have it surveyed, and do some research to find the surveyor with the best local reputation -- lots of ignorami claim to be surveyors. Various kinds of shipworms are very active in those waters, and they love to eat wood boats! A neglected wood hull can become worthless pretty fast down there (or anywhere, really). Sorry to be a drag, but there it is.