40 is not old for a wood boat. But 15 is old for a wood encapsulated
fiberglass boat.

I think if you do some research on fiberglass boats you'll learn that
fiberglass turned out to be not really very water proof. Over years
continual exposure to water results in the transoms, stringers and floors
becoming water saturated. This predicament was made worse when laws passed
requiring boats under 25' to float even when filled with water. The
solution to that was to inject expanding foam under the floors. The foam
further traps the water against the floor and stringers worsening the
situation. If you drill into many older fiberglass boats you'll find most
of the wood is completely wet. And it will not dry out.

Today a number of companies have eliminated wood entirely from their
fiberglass boats.

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 21:59:48 -0700, Garth Almgren
wrote:

Around 8/2/2005 6:00 PM, Gene Kearns wrote:

PPPS
Don't tell any body else our boats are OLD!

Well, they're not *that* old...

Really, no.... when I see quite a few 2-3 times that old... in daily
service.... and they are wooden!

--

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~~~~ }((((o ~~~~~~ }{{{{o ~~~~~~~

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/ Homepage*
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide



We are headed out later today for an early evening cruise tonight on our
friend's 1966 26 foot Lyman (wood). A wood boat almost 40 years
old.........I shall fear for my life (while having a fun time on it).
;-)