On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 11:18:02 -0500, "Gary"
wrote:
What we're thinking is getting a little dremmel type tool for the end of a
drill and
going all along the outside of the hull where the bottom-most plywood strake
meeds the keel. The idea would be to create a crevease to put the 3M stuff
in. I'm pictureing something "V" shapped.

You say "...then the joint refastened". I'm not too clear on what that
would
mean. I mean, how to do it.

============================

Gary, I'd recommend reposting your question on rec.boats.building

There are a fair number of wooden boat experts that hang out there and
can give you a better perspective on the issues and options than I
can.

It's my understanding that the last plank before the keel is called a
garboard, and this is apparently a traditional problem area, probably
because of the stresses involved with a somewhat flexible plank
butting up to the (hopefully) more rigid keel structure.

You first need to understand what was done to keep that area from
leaking when it was new, and what has changed since. Has the wood
weakened (impending rot issues)? Has the caulking dried out? Have
the fastenings for the plank or keel deteriorated allowing movement of
the wood joints?

These are all common issues with older wood hulls. Until you
understand the root cause and address it, all other solutions will be
band aids.

Another possibility is that the wood has dried out and shrunk. Wood
boats are usually built so that a certain amount of moisture swelling
will take place and actually help to compress the caulking and lock
the entire structure together. You could try leaving the boat in the
water at a dock (with suitable pumps), and see if the leakage rate
slows down or disappears.

Good luck.

Wayne,

Good info. I'm glad you said what you did about "root cause". I really
should know by now that there is no use trying something that will probably
turn out to be a band-aid...it usually just makes a mess and the problem
harder to solve. Thanks for remiding me to do the research on this
before goofing with it.

Now that I think about it I have briefly met two different pro boat
restorers
and I'll bet if I took the boat to them on the trailer they'd sped a half
hour
telling me what they think. That would probably be well worth the expense
of the trip and a case of beer and/or some $$ for their time.

Thanks!