River Boating Forum

My boat is a 1932 ex RNLI Barnett class lifeboat.

She is 51' x 13'6" double diagonal mahogany on oak with twin Ford Mermaid 128bhp 6 cylinder engines.

13 51' Barnetts were built of which 8 survive.

How is the boat coming along Carl? Is it the usual case of 'Oh dear, there's ten times more work than I thought' or just double

While I'm thinking about it, what's this I hear of double diagonal boats rotting between the planks. I would have thought they'd be by far the best of Carvel, Clinker and DD. I know they often fetch by far the most money.

You know.......'Fred's' boat could be for sale if around £3000 were offered I think. It's mahogany on (oak)?. Top was replaced only about 3 years ago.

It's better than expected. I didn't think I'd be contemplating the new fit-out so soon.

Apart from the broken steering (now fixed) and the dodgy starting electrics (temporarily bypassed) there isn't much wrong with it, mechanically.

It's taking on no water and I've found no rot inside or out so any major hull work can keep until next winter.

The main job is to convert the sea toilet back to manual, from electric, caulk/oil the decks and paint the faded bits.

DD don't really rot between the planks but, like most wooden boats on saltwater, tend to rot from the inside out.

Good news all round then

I've read up quite a bit on the net, but really don't have much experience at all of how wood survives, and what type, on salt or fresh water.

From what I have been told, hard woods are used for fresh water, which rots wood the most ....... that's about it really Some have said Mahogany rots on fresh water; think we've discussed this before, however others have said it'll last as long as I need it to. Found one small soft spot in the usual wind and waterline when I had her out this year. only about 1 1/2 inches by 1/2 inch. Broads cruisers are often mahogany, and they seem to have lasted pretty well

What's best out of Carvel and Clinker would you say?

MalcOfLincoln wrote:

Lovely Boat!!

She is. I like her. She will always be 'Fred's' boat as she belonged to him when Roy and him became my friends.

I first met him with my neighbour at the time at Bardney, when I first got my mooring, and my Norman. Then discovered him and Roy were friends and we had a few trips to Boston together. We relied on his knowledge as he had been a bargeman.

After his wife died he sort of became my best friend, and invited me for a meal, or treated me to one on a Sunday. Then sadly while waiting for an operation which he had been forced to cancel twice, he died of an anurism only 3 weeks before he was due.

Roy had bought this boat sunk, at Chapel Hill where it is moored now, and sold it to Fred a few years before I had met them. It now belongs to the son of another of his friends, so is in good hands, except he hasn't really got the time required, due to his work, and family commitments.

She is called Compass Rose. I never really liked her until I helped painting and blacking the year before last shortly after Gavin bought her. She was just 'Fred's boat'