WOOD CONSTRUCTION
Yachts have have been built of wood for centuries because it is a material that can be easily shaped, adapted or
amended as required. It has far better insulation properties than GRP, Aluminium or Steel.
With proper maintenance a vessel built of good quality wood will last for decades provided it is
not left out of seawater for long periods and allowed to dry out. If this happens the wood shrinks and stretches its metal
fastenings. When the vessel is re-launched it returns to its previous shape but the fastenings are now unable to hold the
wood in its correct postion and leaks start to appear. If this drying out cycle is repeated the situation will deteriorate
until the vessel constantly leaks and becomes almost irrepairable.
WOOD EPOXY CONSTRUCTION
In the 1960's the Gudgeon brothers in the U.S.A. invented the Epoxy Resin Saturation Process to overcome the maintenance
problems associated with wood construction.
Good quality wood is covered entirely with epoxy resin before being used to contruct the vessel. Fewer metal fastenings
are then needed because epoxy resin is also an excellent glue.
This process lends itself to "cold molding" where several thin layers of wood are glued together to produce a hull that
is stronger than a single layer of wood of the same thickness. Finally the outer skin of the hull is covered with a thin woven
layer of glass-fibre, bedded in and protected by several layers of epoxy resin. This saturation process and the outer layers
of epoxy resin, completely seal the wood from any water penetration so at no time in the future can the wood suffer from wetting
or drying out.
The additional benefit of this process is enormous protection from worm or other underwater borers and from impact
damage and general wear and tear. The final result is a vessel which is warm and quiet down below and exceptionally strong
and resiliant. This type of contruction did not lend itself to mass production so there are only a few very high quality
vessels being built in this manner today.