Leaking Woodie

[Ian W371]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forum, but having taken ownership of W371 around this time last year and since been digging around finding problems, I’ve frequented the site many times to pull from the experience and knowledge pool of the Wayfarer owners. Having fitted main and head sail reefing systems plus various other mods aimed at single handed cruising, I decided to try her out on an inland piece of water to see how everything worked, and above all see how she handled, or rather how I handled her. Two outings later and having puzzled over water ingress into the forward buoyancy chamber (cupful) on both occasions, I’m now able to say I know where she is leaking, because I could see it coming back out again once back on terra firma. My question is how should I try to fix her. Water is entering through the joint between port side bottom plank and the keel timber roughly at the point where the plank starts to blend into the rebate in the stem, just at the turn of the forefoot into the stem. Is this a particular problem of older wooden boats and has anybody managed to resolve this without major surgery (on the boat that is)?

Any suggestions/pointers/previous experience on this particular problem would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Ian

[Jerome FR – W447]

Hi Ian,
I prefer the Experts to give you the right advice.
I have done some repairs on mine at the same junction but in the rear of my boat. I assume the wood tension is not the same at your place.

Thanks for your introduction!
Could you give us more info on your W371?
The general state when you bought it? Why did you choose a Wayfarer? The care it needs? Its known history? Pictures?
It is always exciting to know another « woody » will go back at sea with someone who loves it.
Where are you located? Maybe another enthusiast isn’t far from you and could share advice by watching the Wayfarer?

Best regards.

Jérôme

[Ian W371]

Hi Jerome,

Thanks. W371 was purchased from the Bedford area, she is I feel, generally in good condition structurally, having received major works regarding her CB case in the recent past by a previous but one owner. Since purchase I have re secured some of her timber floors to the chine stingers where they were becoming detached due to faster wastage and glue failure and I’ve sorted out the hatch covers, catches, seals and re secured bulkhead stiffeners in the fwd chamber, spending a fair amount of time so far chasing leaks around the bulkheads. I see evidence of sikaflex adhesive/sealant in various places on the hull so I guess there must be issues lurking beneath and I will investigate sooner than later. Cosmetically  she needs varnish attention on decks and I plan to repaint her hull this winter. I have limited knowledge of history other than what the previous owner told me, he purchased her from a naval officer based in Scotland, and the association has some previous history including measurement, when she was based around the Portsmouth and Hayling Island areas during late 90’s and early 2000’s. Ian porter remembers seeing her out and about in Chichester Harbour over the years. Can’t find a builders plate so not sure whether she is a Small Craft boat or another builder or home kit, but I understand most were professionally built. She is 1961 vintage so that was only a few years into production, I’m guessing small craft. Looking at her deck beam joinery I think she exhibits a professional build and I think reasonably symmetrical too which is another indicator. I chose a Wayfarer for cruising capability, based in Rye in East Sussex.

 

Ian

[Jerome FR – W447]

Ian, you have severe clues in hand to rebuild the W371’s history.

You could send an email to Sarah, our UKWA’s secretary (secretary@wayfarer.org.uk) and order the original measurement certificate.
You must know that at the beginning, it was possible to buy a kit (mine, W447, was built by an enthusiast).
I’m not sure most of the Wayfarers were profesionally built at the beginning.
Regarding your boat, the original measurement certificate will mention that information (and furthermore, the name of the sailing club + the name of the owner/builder).

It is also interesting to know your W371 was in Chichester harbour. At Chichester, you have the Dell Quay Sailing club.
Mine (W447) was based at the Dell Quay Sailing Club from 1962 to 1976.
I am chatting with the daughter of the man who builds W447 (thanks to the certificate).
Her father is still alive (96, yes, that is awesome), and they got many alive memories together.
Who knows, maybe he has decided to buy his wayfarer kit after being experienced with your W371 at Dell Quay? That would be terrific!

[Ian W371]

Hi Jerome,

 

I will contact Sarah, there is a certificate for W371, but I didn’t realise I could ask for it. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Ian

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