Copper Rivets (1969)

[enahsx]

I am potentially looking at the purchase of a 40' wooden Keith Nelson, built in 1969. It has a double diagonal layered hull and shows the exterior joins between planks more on the port bow which spends most of its time in the sin - I'm not sure if this means anything!?

I am particularly interested to know if I should be concerned about the strength of the hull, I believe that the double diag may be riveted with copper rivets and have heard that the sea air etc can cause some sort of reaction or decay between these rivets and the wood they are set in. I would like to know if this should be a matter for concern and if I am right in what I have said about reacting etc. Thank you in advance.

[gonzo]

The only way to answer that would be with an onsite survey. Your best choice would be to get a surveyor or boat carpenter to check it out. Age alone is not an indicator of the boat's condition.