Painting a Wooden Hull

[Guest]

When you paint a carvel planked wooden hull, what are the secrets to preventing the paint cracking or peeling at the seams? There are so many wooden hulls out there that seem to manage sustaining the movement in the wood while sailing and don't crack..what am I doing wrong?

[gonzo]

The problem is not the paint job. Your planks are moving. There could be a structural problem like fastener fatigue. The type of wood also makes a difference. For example, mahogany and teak are very dimensionally stable; cedar or cypress move a lot and show the seams.