rt hints at wood re

Bdoating questions answered

T am thinking of purchasing an
folder wood boat in the 35 to
2pe, with the idea

eof living aboard. Many boats I

Book at hav a peculiar smell to
them. Can you recommend a
hemical cleaner to get rid of

is smell?

There are many possible origins for
he odor emanating from a wood boat.
irty bilge water could be the cause
ind a good quality bilge cleaner should
pake care of that.

Bilges on any boat should be kept as
lean and dry as possitl. If the boat

hos been kept closed up for a long time,
Rondensation could have caused cur-

Bains and upholstery to mildew and
roduce a musty smell. Opering up

hatches and windows should clear up
y-unpleasant musty smells. Wood

oats in particular should be kept well
ntilared throughout.

The most disturbing smell in a wood
oat is the smell of rot.

Ifa wood boat is not well ventilated,
ildew, (a type of fungus) will form on
¢ wood — rot in wood is caused by
ngus. The most common fungus
und in boats is the family of
asidiomycete. , Hyph

‘ungi. begin life as a—a
hreadlike growth fi lamant’ approxi:
: ately 2 microns in diameter. These

- Photos submitted

HEN looking at wooden vessels
marine *surveyor Philip Oldham
buggests: steering clear of those

ith @ peculiar smeit which may be
ridicative of wood rot such as that
liustrated above.

Hypha spread in the
air throughour a
structure. When
they land on a moist,
warm surface they
mature into_ spores
which then feed on
the sugar contained
in the cellulose and
lignan of the wood.

Spores thrive in

an environment of
20% or more of
moisture content
and in temperatures
ranging between of
50° and 70°F. In
these conditions fungi can destroy up
to X%” of wood per day. As the fungi
consumes the cellulose and lignan,
fibreous material is left behind, this
material may retain the shape of the
original structure, burt it has no
strength.

The first indications of biodeteriora-
tion (rot) is a discoloration of the wood
as the spores work into the surface. This
can be scen in varnished surfaces where
a break in the surface coating has
allowed water to be absorbed into the
wood causing discoloration.

The Hypha enter this damaged area,
mature to spores and work their way
into the wood. As they progress more

C1) ne

4M..........

SURVEYOR Philip
Oidham answers
boating questions.

t

at the surface coating breaks
down, allowing more moisture
into the area and the process is
exacerbated unal the structure
is destroyed.

Painted surfaces may bulge out
slightly and have a dead sound
when tapped.

Ila wooden vessel is left closed
up, with no ventilation, water in
the bilges and ill warm condi-
tions, biodeterioration is bound
to occur.

The cycle of deterioration
would begin as water in the
bilges evaporates and rises to
the upper surfaces, there it
would condense, soaking the
wood and providing ideal con-
ditions for the hypha to mature.

If good ventilation was provided,
the evaporating water wouid be forced
out of the vessell and the hypha would
not be given an opportunity to settle.

There are many well maintained
older wood boats in our area, but
untess you are handy with toals and are
prepared to spend a lot of time and
money let your nose be your guide
when inspecting your liveaboard dream.

Philip Oldham is a Marine Surveyor
with 10 years experience based on ‘the
North Shore. a you bare marine ques-
tions you would like answered writ- 0
him c/a the North Shore News or tete-
phone him at 984-7286.

Wednesday, March 5, 1997 — North Shore News — 33

ines

Reclamation
project a hit

By Robert Galster
News Reporter

4 jaunt through North
Vancouver’s Mosquito
Creek Marina revealed a
bustle of activity cen-
tring around projects
boasting many a tall
tale.

First up was a group of
three guys with diverse back-
grounds, but futures inter-
wined around an ongoing
project. Theirs happens to be
the refitting of the Delpins, a
victim of last December’s snow
storms.

After the previous owner's
insurance paid for the damage,
the 41" power cruiser which
had been submerged beneath
the weight of a collapsed boat
house, the vessel went on to
the auction block.

“Ivll be better than it was
before the accident,” said
Geoff Rogers, one of the own-
ers.

BOB Baker is leading How Rogers came to be
the Squamish Nation’s

refit of a Bill Reid canoe. See Work page 35

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