Hard Luck (name to be changed)

by Jan Storbakken
(Craig, AK)

Wood is sound.

Wood is sound.

28 foot beached boat that just doesn't seem like her time is done yet.

At a minimum could be a show and tell for the local kids here.

Had a lovely, rip the topside festival.

Patched what we could to get her home and towed her back with a 18 foot lightweight fishing boat.

Would like to restore to floatable.

Will take all suggestions, haven't got a clue what I am getting into.

But I have been eyeing her for a long time.

She was a classic fishing boat here in Southeast Alaska.

Hard to believe people would fish, cook and sleep on her.

Comments for Hard Luck (name to be changed)

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Still beached
by: Jan S

Gets wet with the tides.

Have Oakum and wedge, cotton and another tool in the car.

You know how it a big project and once you start it's fine.

Haven't started will probably go and look at it today- for grins.

Everyone says make it lawn art.

I would give away to the right person.

But she looks like she's got some life in her.
Good Luck
by: Mike

'They' all said I was mad when I started rebuilding my present boat.

But she is now afloat and 'they' are all now envious.
pooped plank
by: Jan Storbakken

Yes it a pooped plank and a popped plank.

Everyone tells me to go slowly... I am too slow I think. Topside was cabin.

NO NO NO
by: CAPT. STU

NO MAN, WALK AWAY. YOU'LL HAVE MORE MONEY INVESTED IN IT THAN A NEW BOAT WOULD COST, AND
THE OLD BOAAT WILL STILL BE A PIECE OF SHIT.
A Rotted Rib
by: Jan Storbakken

There's probably a better name than a rib.

Where the popped plank is is rotted, yes there's a sister there, I was wondering if I could shake out the rot and either epoxy or do another rib?

I can handle the epoxy but shaping a rib seems too big a task.

Have an old sailor going to show me how to stuff cotton and oakum in.

Looks like a fun project.
by: Paddle Dan

Makes me wish I lived where I could find old wooden boats for free!

It should keep you pretty busy during the long winter but well worth the effort in the spring.

Paddle Dan


"Better Luck Next Time"
by: Mike

Hi Jan,

You must have posted this just as I was answering your email.

So, I'll repeat most of it here, save you opening the email.

As I said Wooden Boats can be addictive (just like having a "LARC";).

As for where to start, it very much depends on what needs doing.

But the way I look at, it is that first and foremost she is a boat.

And a boat has to float!

So my advice would be to sort out the seams, the pooped plank and then worry about everything else.

Besides, by sorting out the hull and pulling that together, might just alter how everything else fits.

And there is also the trap that I've seen more than one person fall into, spending literally years making a superb job of the interior etc of a boat (or should I say shed) which never floats.

Just to clarify, when you say you "had to remove topside", were you referring to the cabin sides or the part of the hull above the waterline?

Some of these 'nautical' terms get used in different ways. Not that it matters, just as long as we are talking about the same thing.

Hope this helps,

And do let us know how you get on.

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