Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:36:51 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

...a seam-filling project.

It's been a long time since I have worked on a wood boat, so long that
even if I could remember what I used to fill seams and then paint them,
I'm sure it no longer would be available.

So, here's what we have...a seam between two planks on a deck. I want to
fill the seam with some sort of material that will dry to a fairly
smooth, sandable surface, be waterproof, and be paintable.

Plastic Wood? Anything better? I remember some "Petit" brand products
from 50 years ago, but I doubt they're still manufactured.

Well, it depends on how bad the seam is.

You could use bedding compound which is a fairing composite which I
used to use years ago - Interlux still makes a good compound - a
little pricey.

Or, you could use lead putty which I also don't know if they make
anymore with lead powder and linseed oil.

There is another way to make a bedding compound which I saw used on a
Towne Class sail boat a couple of years ago - fine ground calcium
carbonate and linseed oil - make a paste.

There are other options like chopped oakum and linseed oil - probably
the best through is a bedding compound.


These aren't fancy planks, and they have been painted before. A bedding
compound that doesn't really harden and become sandable, though, would
not be the answer I seek here.