Well, first you have to do a refurbish versus building a new one value
analysis.
If you never own and did repair maintenance on a wooden boat you better to
walk away from it. On repairing a wooden boat you do not use a square of
level. Many time you have to eyeball a piece to make a duplicate and to fit
it.

Replacing a few ribs and plank is not all that bad. But if you have to do
more than that you will require lots of time and cash.
Oak and other wood species are not cheap. You may want to use green wood
and dry it.

Before you do any work you have to wait until the wood is dry. Conversely
if you are doing it for a relaxing therapy you may enjoy every minute of it.
If you are doing it to safe money you may or may not reach your goal. Once
you are finish refurbishing the boat every year you have to maintain it with
about 25 hours of work or more.

"floydo" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello,
I have recently found an old (1960's?) Penn Yan boat, I think
about 21 ft. Under the false floor I can see that the ribs are rotting
as there is 1/2" of standing water in the boat. It looks to me like the
work to restore this and actually float it would be endless, though it
is a real beauty.
I've done some rough carpentry before, but never anything of this
magnitude, and would not know where to start.
I would like to know where I might get some comprehensive
expertise on what this sort of restoration would entail, including the
replacement of ribs and cedar stripping, and other possible
alternatives for making the hull sound.
I haven't bought the boat yet and am now leaning toward walking
away, as the work seems pretty overwhelming.
Thanks for any and all suggestions.
Floydo.