Wooden Boats

[Lepke]

Wood boats ride better because they're usually heavier, full of all that water soaked wood. I've been on and around wood boats all my life. Properly maintained and painted, I don't find them any more labor intensive that any other boat. Steel rusts, gel coats fade and most cored hulls have some water intrusion. The problem with wood boats is when people don't take proper care or put off maintenance. Most owners and some boat yards don't do proper paint jobs, leaving the wood open to water and dry rot. Most paint and sealers are much better today. The big exception is wood preservers, thanks, EPA. Old wood boats and especially ships had salt boxes between the rib tops. Condensation (or leaks) that formed on the underside of the curved deck went thru the salt and down the sides. Preserving the ribs and planks. Oak and fir soaked in salt water can become very hard with age. I've ruined saw blades cutting it.