T&T: Termite Problem

[Albin43SDtr]

Marc,

I have personally only seen termites in one boat - a wooden shrimp 
boat. It was here in Florida. The remedy was to tear out every piece 
of infected wood - for two reasons. First, to simply get rid of all 
known infested areas, and second, but far more importantly, to see if 
any structural damage had been done.

In the case of the shrimp boat, the infestation was confined to the 
shrimp hold, so, as it turned out, no structural damage was done. Had 
they waited, the termites may have done lots more damage. The hold 
was lined with fiberglass, but the lining had a crack in it that 
water leaked out of which saturated the hold's wooden wall and floor 
panels, and supports. After the infected wood was removed, if I 
remember correctly, the boat was tented (may have just been that 
area) to assure that any "displaced" termites were killed, so that 
they could not reinfect the boat. In this case it was highly 
improbable, as the termites used fresh water from ice in the hold to live on.

In your case, I think that you also have to be assured that there is 
no structural damage. This probably means that you have to remove 
whatever is necessary to assess the boat's integrity. If you can 
remove all visibly damaged/infected wood, freezing weather may 
destroy any remaining termites, but I would, if it were my boat, have 
the boat tented by a professional exterminator. After all damaged 
wood is removed and the boat tented, I would then go about replacing 
the damaged wood.

I have also been told of termites in fiberglass and steel boats that 
had deck leaks and/or leaky fresh water systems. A good reason to 
make sure there are no such leaks.

I am really sorry to hear about your boat as I know how much stress 
such a problem can cause.


Take care and be safe.

Wayne
Celestial
Albin43 Sundeck
Panama City, FL area