T&T: Timber Boats

[Candy Chapman and Gary Bell]

Rob and Robin asked:

Q1. Safety. If the hull surveys out well and the vessel was well built, how
truly seaworthy is an old wooden working boat?

A:  Seaworthy is almost never a function of the material, mostly a function of
the design and condition of the vessel.  Commercial fishing boats routinely go
out in weather and seas that would scare the average yachtsman to death.  Yes,
a number are lost, and commercial fishing is some of the most hazardous work
people do, but most losses are from imprudent (and impudent) seamanship.  The
designs of these boats have evolved through countless generations of boats,
each built to exceed the last ability.  Traditions of building in one material
or another also have long histories, except for the first few examples of a
novel material.  So, given that we yachtsmen would hardly ever encounter those
scary sea conditions in our boating, an old commercial boat that meets our
other requirements (room, accomodations, maintenance, fuel budget, etc.) and
is in good condition will far outstrip the average yachtsman's needs.

Q2. How much greater are the maintenance costs of a wooden boat vs. steel or
glass? Most of my prejudice against wooden boats comes from seeing poorly
maintained Chris Craft/Egg Harbor/Owen etc. taking on water at dockside or
rotting on the hard at boat yards.

A:  I look less at the maintenance costs in money, and more at the cost in
time and effort.  On my beloved PDQ 34 the only exposed wood is a set of stair
treads which have gone gracefully to grey without any protest from me.  I
would rather be boating than sanding.  Fiberglass is the clear winner in small
boats chiefly because there are so many 'glass boats around, and we have lots
of experience dealing with the materials and the problems.  Steel, and to a
lesser extent aluminum are equally easy to care for, although considerably
different techniques and materials are involved.  No mystery that larger
shipping and yachts are almost always built of steel, by folks who have
carefully considered their choice. I am not aware of very many commercial
small boat builders who have the rolls, shears and other metal forming
equipment scaled small enough to build small yacht sized boats in quantity in
steel.  Small aluminum sport fishing or other designs is a major industry here
in the Northwest, where they are prized for their strength, low maintenance
and ease of repair -- although I don't yet see many trawler/cruiser sort of
designs in aluminum.  And, the metal boat designs typically have a slab-sided
or home-built look because compound curves are challenging for a small scale
metal fabricator.  They can't afford the stamping mills used to make Buick
fenders, and hand forming these dish shapes repeatably is slow and costly.

Q3. What is the biggest boat that two middle aged people of average physical
ability can handle? We handle our 36' just fine and up to 45' I can't
imagine a problem. But, what about 65'?

A:  No specific answer is available.  Depends on the couple, their skill and
experience, their physical condition, and their attitudes.  Depends on the
places they plan to boat, the conditions they plan to boat in, and the
capabilities and characteristics of the specific boat and equipment they
choose.  For a jaw-dropping experience come out to either coast and watch
experienced fishermen maneuver and dock amazingly large commercial boats --
often with single screw, and quite often single-handed.  Like most yachtsmen I
am trapped in a situation where I will never have the strength or experience
these guys (and a few girls too) have. I provided myself with a power
catamaran, with twin, counter-rotating props twelve feet apart.  I can spin
about in either direction and at the speed of my choosing.  I can freely
select whether I proceed through the marina forward or backward.  I can
pirouette.  Leaves little excuse when I crash test the dock, though.  Lots of
the other old guys on my dock single hand their trawlers and sailboats in the
fifty and sixty foot range.  Experience is the real key.  Go get a bunch of
that experience.

Understand too that such experience is almost always gained on a progression
of boats.  Your Carver is a fine starting point.  It has good features and bad
ones, just exactly like every other boat in existance.  Get out and use it.
Keep notes if you like on the good and bad qualities of your boat and other
boats you see, and be prepared to trade up to some other boat (more likely
several boats) as your experience in boating develops and your goals and needs
evolve, for they certainly will.  The sort of boat and the sort of boating you
will enjoy later is impossible to understand now -- you just can't know now
what will be right for you then.

Good questions though, Rob.  Virtually everyone on the list must have faced
the same issues.  Look at all the different solutions we have come up with
over time.  Good Luck, and keep in touch,

Gary and Admiral Candy