A Rant About Wood Vs Chemical Spill.
Life, in the shape of a boat
Now I will try and be balanced to be respectful of plastic boats. You know those future cancer causing toxic mixtures of gelatinous gooo shaped in the form of a boat. No offense intended. Boats, which were given us by divine insporation were made of materials from our earth. Our planet. Wood mostly, maybe some straw, but fiberglass? Aluminum? Okay, for some really odd reason an aluminum boat doesnt feel as un natural. Until its shaped in the form of a pontoon!
Wood=Love
Now this may seem like I am coming off a little one sided here. But lets be honest, the coolest part of a plastic classic is the crazy shapes they make, and or the crazy graphics. But thats about it. Why have a plastic boat that is a boring design. For gods sake the only reason to use fiberglass is to make a unusual shape. And to paste on graphics, or crazy colors.
Who needs crazy shapes and colors when you have this
BUT, and here is a major flaww in thinking that a fiberglass boat is an easier boat to restore. One, is, that shape. You cant replicate that without making a form. And most of the older fiberglass boats have…wait for it… WOOD inside. ROTTON wood, so you have to dismantle the boat anyway and replace all that wood. Then put it all back. Gel coats? Vs varnish.
Even a small woody is better than a …well..
Okay let’s take it into the metaphysical realm. To be transparent, I do own a plastic boat. WEFETCHEM. It’s a boat, and that is about all one can say about it. It gets me there, and I can ignore it. But once out on the water, it’s just nuth’n. No soul, no feedback. it’s frankly boring. No one really waves to you like they do when you are in a wood boat. There is just nuth’n. Even crab pot markers get more feedback. So this weekend, pull your woody boat out there, and give the world and your mental health a reminder of what is good in the world.
zzzzzzzzzzzzz She is a 20 year old this year. Is she a classic yet?
Mr B feels it
Wood is wonderful
Ahhhhhhhh
Wood is Wonderful!!
So WoodyBoater has been a little too calm and harmonious lately and it was time to stir the pot!
Greg: That is what I was thinking. “Need to get some comments stirred up!”
All of us here LOVE our wooden boats, but the “controlled chemical spills” can also have a soul.
Besides, regardless of if it comes from a previously living plant or a chemical configuration it still comes from Mother Earth.
Here’s one of those crappy lifeless glass boats. Notice the lack of design details. Terrible sheer line. Angles, dimensions and proportions are all wrong. Matt, if you were standing next to me you would be a little concerned for your well being.
Here is another ugly boat by the same terrible designer. You were correct in that they are difficult to restore.
Amen brother!!!
With all of the demands of life, sometimes you just need a boat that just gets you out on the water without all of the B.S. that comes with maintaining our beloved wood boats.
“Even crab pot markers get more feedback.” Yup, although no crab pot markers on Keuka. Judy and I can cruise in my 17′ Sportsman (certainly no big fancy boat) and get constant waves and thumbs up, while the latest greatest wakeboard monstrosity or 300 HP tritoon is met with indifference. I can even generate substantial rollers at 1700 RPM and people still smile! All this for a very small fraction of what people have invested in these fancy new boats.
Let’s think about this a little deeper.
1st a tree is simply a chemical plant turning carbon, oxygen, and other chemicals into a fiber substance. We then cut it down and form it to our liking, treat it with Smith CPES (a chemical compound) so as to kill any living organisms that will make the wood rot, and cover it with varnish or paint (more chemical compounds).
So in reality both a fiberglass and a wooden boat is nothing but a “controlled chemical spill”.
Yes – wood boats definitely have more soul and pizazz. Up here in northern Michigan we are getting ready for the Traverse City “Boats on the Boardwalk” and Hessel shows which brings out large crowds to see these special crafts. That being said however, for everyday life there are situations where a modern plastic boat is also kind of a necessity up here as we enjoy meeting up at anchorages with other friends on boats, all plastic, for the day. Taking many people with all the gear, food and refreshments, being sandwiched in between other plastic boats, a working head [especially at our ages], swim platform, anchor windless etc. are pretty nice to have for the day. Just sayin.
I guess I would also add that we tend to trailer our classic boats with modern vehicles for reliability, comfort, technology etc – same thing. Love old trucks but don’t want to trailer a boat hundreds of miles with one.
Good comments all. I will just add that since “going over to the dark side” I find I have a lot more time for just actually Going Boating!
John in Va
Nothing beats wood and its got a tremendous shape;
I love my fiberglass Four Winns and it’s great for trailering everywhere to drop on other lakes, great for skiing, tubing, wakeboarding but except for a Larson Falls Flyer, I don’t get excited about fiberglass boats. Woodies excite me. That didn’t come out right at all.
One for big waves and one for little, friendly waves.
A few years ago while visiting friends on Secret island (it’s a secret don’t tell anyone). We were cruising a small bay in the gulf islands, when we came across a large yacht with several people on deck having their evening cocktails. They paid no attention to the four of us in a small fiberglass boat (the gofer) go for this go for that. The very next evening, same bay, same yacht, same people we were treated with a standing ovation. The deference, we were in a stunning 1930’s vintage triple cockpit Hacker.
Hey Tim! We know that island well – and are keeping it a secret…
It’s very ironic that you have used Art’s Art for the opening woodieboater photo today as Molly-O is no longer going to be Art’s ART it will be bob-in in the Michigan blue waters with her NEW caretaker……..Bob.
Are I VERY sad about selling Molly-O ………..ABSOULTY, but the good thing is she will be able to stay in the same well and boathouse that she has lived in mostly since 1952. The new owner of our house (that’s another story) has agreed to rent the well to Bob and Molly-O.
Just art……. now.
Sorry to hear that Art. Molly-O will always be yours. Hopefully the sale included occasional boat rides. It’s nice that she will remain in the same area let alone the same boathouse.
lol, that’s some “get of my lawn” stuff right there. Funny about 10 years ago when the Correct Craft contingency showed up at Tavares the sentiment was quite different.
live and let live brother!
GRP deep vee hull. Solid smooth in rough water, low maintenance. Composite balsa cored deck, solid, no frames. Mahogany vacuum bagged over lay on deck, mahogany interior. What’s not to like?
Nothing easy about restoring one of these, but worth thr effort.
You did amazing work. Dealing with both is brutal. See you in Hessel?