Help, rot

I have a rot problem with an 18 foot outrigger canoe build, detailed below, copied from original thread under multis. I would be very grateful for any advice.

Again, thanks. Any constructive advice very much appreciated. I am hating this as I put a bit of effort into the 18 foot rolling bevel!
-BWD

 

could this be a fungus, or mold causing it?

 

From what you have posted it really doesn't look too bad.

I am no expert by any means, but if what you have posted is as bad as it gets- I would probably go with option 2 and 3-
just try to cut out the affected wood, maybe with something like a router, treat what remains (with some sort of rot inhibiting product- in my country we have a now banned copper based product called Blue7), thouroughly clean the wood of this residue, and either splice in some new wood peices with epoxy (with the right alignment of grain), or just fill with epoxy and glass fiber.
Of course going with this solution, depending on how much you would have to do could end up as just as much or more work as replacing the whole lot.
If you are definately going to do something, I would investigate with some cutting and digging and see how far the rot goes in, then make your decision.

I could of course be wrong here.

Good luck,
let us know how it goes.

Hans.

 

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the rot is only surface to some fraction of a mm -that's all I can see with a 4x loupe. Not really up for microscopy and special techniques, but the problem is the darned microscopic aspect of it -filaments, spores.... Really maybe I am ok, it did just happen in a short time and it is limited to scattered spots. I am thinking of digging out a margin around the spots and filling with bog. Might also route through to outer skin at intervals and pour little dams to prevent spread - used fir for this part more for its strength during the build than when complete, keel area will have 18 oz S2 inside and out when done.
Can anyone recommend a good anti-rot treatment available in US to go under the epoxy? (Have been using West for fillets etc, S3 silvertip for glass).
Thanks again!

 

BWD, take a look at this thread on the Woodenboat forum about Douglas Fir. What tou have may not be rot. http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=60734

You might be able to easily rid the wood of this.

 

Thanks for the reference, Ike.
I am thinking it is a mold, mildew-like in its appearance. Not sure if it is really wood destroying. I guess I could hose it down and wait a few months to see...
...but I am thinking I will just carve out the spots, treat as rot with EG and borates, fill with epoxy and get on with it. Maybe unneeded but it shouldn't cost too much or take as long as replacement. And next time I build this way I will precoat the inner face of the planks.
-BWD