Preview: Re-Sheathing the Deck of a Wooden Boat, Part 1–The Plan

13 Responses So Far to “Re-Sheathing the Deck of a Wooden Boat, Part 1–The Plan”

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  Les Weeks says:

  When I re-canvassed my 1912 Teignmouth Yawl ‘White Cloud’ (now looking after Paul Stevens in Portugal) as part of a pretty full restoration, I wanted to keep her ‘real’ hence the canvas rather than the recommended glass/resin. I researched the process – lots of old paint liberally spread over the deck, canvas applied and rubbed into the wet paint before buckets of water thrown over to shrink the canvas. However, I partly chickened out and glued (polystyrene) a thin marine ply over the pine planks and then set the canvas into a good covering of Titebond3, then two or three coats rolled over using thinned (same) glue before priming and deck painting. Sixteen years on, with a few repaints with the deck paint, I believe all is still well. Never-the-less, if I did it again I would probably glass it!

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  Bill Page says:

  Nice video Eric. When you remove that galvanized iron windlass I put on many years ago (mostly for looks and to hang the mooring pennant on!), get some lead ballast into her forward bilge; she’s floating to high forward with crew aboard aft…

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  Bill Page says:

  Eric, When you remove that galvanized iron windlass I put on the foredeck many years ago (mostly for looks!), get some lead ballast into her forward bilge – she’s floating too high forward with crew aboard aft…

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  David Miller says:

  We have a similar deck system and cabin tops that are canvas bedded in Dolfinite. I don’t know if this was done when the boat was built in 1946 or added latter. The bedding has hardened and “paint sickiness” is remarkably similar to this example. We also have similar issues with the gunnels. Looking forward to seeing you do this project! See Sea Nymph II on the OFC / WWW boat show pages.

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    David and Margaret Tew says:

    That’s correct about the Dolphinite. It’s oil-infused and the oils eventually soak into any wood substrate leaving a hard, crusty deposit.

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  Jay Knight says:

  Another good project, nice explanation on the proposed project.

  When you replace the rails on the that will likely be 34ish feet. I imagine the plan is to scarf material till the desired lengths. When you start springing the rails to the hull does the scarfed joint make hard spots, I realize the sheer isn’t that great, but….

  Thanks so

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  JOHN Wade says:

  Eric said that Vital Spark’s deck was set in paint. In my youth many boats had canvas decks, but they were set in white lead, with 4 or more coats of paint on top. I never saw the type of deterioration in those old decks that appear on Vital S. I suppose the banning of lead compounds eliminated its use for bedding, and paint was a substitute.

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  Ralph Wernett says:

  Going to love watching the progress as you go along.

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  Bill Theurkauf says:

  I’m very interested in seeing what comes to light when the rails and canvas are off. Seems like every time I start a minor “freshen up” it turns into a major rebuild!

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  Philip Myer says:

  Great project Eric, can we see your Lobster boat, is it still black or now repainted ?

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    Tristan McKee says:

    I second that! The Charlena update is needed.

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  Derek Lasher says:

  I wondered what became of the VitalS when Bill let her go! Clearly she’s in good hands.

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  Doug Hermann says:

  A new series! Can’t wait to see how Eric executes his plan!