Starting a project

[Magellansoul]

I have just inherited a wooden H28, approx 1950, She has been on the hard for 2-3 years. Hull deck, interior in fair shape considering. Cockpit needs to be rebuilt.

Having been in a cradle for awhile the hull planks have shrunk and the seams all show small gaps. I am assured that she was tight when she was taken out of the water. She was surveyed and then given a new transom but not put back in the water.

How do you go about reintroducing a boat that has been on the hard for awhile? How do you go about prepping the hull for new bottom paint etc? How do you allow these seams to swell and re-establish their tightness before I begin refinishing?

The idea of getting her in the water and enjoying the season and leaving major tasks until the fall is very tempting.

Thanks for helping a new member.

Robert.

[marshmat]

Will take a while for those planks to moisten up again. They need to be exposed to moisture (constantly) all over, ideally from both sides, until they approach their proper shape. Perhaps someone with more experience than I might have tips as to how to do this... I'd suggest wrapping the hull in a few flannel sheets, and a garden sprinkler under the keel that goes on for a few minutes an hour. Just a thought....

[Alan Jones]

The previous advice is sound. Having had this problem myself my method was to tie old sacks around the hull and run a plastic hosepipe around the toerail, the pipe had been pierced at interval with a nail. This meant that once the sacking was good and wet the water could be turned off for a while. At the same time we would wet the interior of the hull making sure to remove the excess water to avoid too much weight. Also if the hull is in direct sunlight use a cover of some description.

Come launching day we would book the crane for 24 hours and lower her slowly keeping her in the slings. she should take up pretty quickly but dont let the crane go until you are sure you can cope. A friend used to just dump his boat in the water and rely on a huge portable pump, this worked well for years until one Sunday night. The crane went and the pump packed up.

[Bergalia]

Two good suggestions above. And as Alan Jones says hire the crane for at least 24 hours. Add to that a sleeping bag and efficient hand pump, and be prepared to stay overnight, waking when the bag gets soggy and then pumping like hell.
Experienced this with a carvel built sloop which had been ashore for four years. She had 1/4inch gaps throughout her length. Total despair, but 48 hours after being lowered she was watertight - and stayed that way until her bi-ennial bottom scratch. ;)

[chandler]

If she's on land,put a garden hose in the bilge, let it run,fill the bilge, till it stops leaking...if it seems to take too long,run the bilge pumps,that way you check them to

[wdnboatbuilder]

i once had a 64' buy boat out for 7 weeks, when i got her back in the water it took 15 bulge pumps going for 8 days then it took another 10 days to stop them all. you will more than likely will have to re-caulk the seams.