A shipwright builds and repairs boat structure. In practice that means timber hulls and decks, but also the glass, epoxy and core repairs that sit between a boatbuilder and a cabinet maker. Skilled people are in short supply in most ports, so it helps to know what the work involves and what to ask before a boat goes in for repair.
What shipwright work covers
- Timber hulls and decks: replacing planks and frames, recaulking seams, fairing and fastening, and repairing rot.
- Deck repairs on any hull: wet or delaminated core, leaking fittings, and the structural consequences of water getting in. The teak deck guide and the chainplate guide show how a small leak becomes a structural job in the tropics.
- Composite repair: grounding and collision damage, rudder and keel repairs, and osmosis treatment.
- Interior joinery: cabinets, bunks, lockers and furniture built to fit curved surfaces and to survive a seaway.
Why marine joinery is not domestic carpentry
Nothing on a boat is square, and nearly everything moves. Joinery is fitted against curves, often in confined spaces, and has to cope with humidity, heat and vibration. Timber and panels need to be dry when they are fitted and sealed or ventilated so they stay that way. Fastenings, adhesives and finishes need to suit the material and the damp environment. Weight matters too, particularly high up or at the ends of the boat, which is why marine ply, veneers and lightweight cores are common.
What the tropics add
Heat and humidity speed up decay in untreated timber, and sunshine breaks down caulking and finishes. Water that enters a deck core near a fitting spreads along the core and reaches areas that look sound from outside. Timber that is stored or worked in wet-season humidity may be damper than it feels. A competent shipwright will check moisture content before fitting or sealing, and will tell you when a repair should wait for drier weather.
Choosing a shipwright
- Ask for examples of work on boats like yours: the same construction, age and material. Experience with an epoxy-coated modern timber hull is different from experience with a carvel-planked classic.
- Ask what the repair will involve before the work starts: how far the damage extends, what will be cut out, which materials and adhesives will be used and why.
- Get a written quote with exclusions, and an agreed way of dealing with extra work found when the boat is opened up. Planning a refit covers the process.
- Check insurance cover for the contractor and for the work. If a surveyor has recommended the repair, ask whether the repair needs to be signed off for your insurer.
- Ask about timing. Resin and coating work depend on temperature and humidity, and the best days for it are not evenly spread through the year.
Do it yourself or hire
Owners often do cosmetic and minor repairs themselves. Structural work, such as a keel attachment, a chainplate area or a rudder, deserves a professional opinion even if you plan to do the labour. A marine survey or a rigger's inspection tells you how deep a problem goes before you decide who does the work, and the haul-out guide explains what to arrange with the yard if the job needs the boat out of the water.