TBII, Canvas and Boats

[ghcoe]

Weather is turning a bit cold so I have been catching up on some research. I was digging around some boat/canvas information and found this interesting read on TBII, traditional canvas deck work and why fiberglass killed many wooden boats. Seems we are heading the right way with our thinking....

http://www.tonygrove.com/articles/nordic-folk-boat.php

[GPW]

That’s quite a restoration ... and a great story !!! Thanks GH !!!

[ghcoe]

I found a lot of good information in there. Of particular interest to those who may not want to read the article.

I made up a mix of PVA with about 30% water and painted the decks with that. The saturation of canvas with the watered down PVA adds strength to the fibers and helps to ensure adhesion of the canvas that may not have enough glue, also thinning it allows it to sink into the canvas but not completely fill the weave allowing the paint to have a good bond. After it was allowed to dry over a few days, so high moisture is not trapped under any paint.

I have seen traditionally laid canvas on boats that were around a hundred years old and every time I am excited to see that there are very few problems with the decks and, if anything, because they are able to breathe and work with the boat, they are usually the reason the boats are in such good shape.

the cost compared to epoxies and fancy fabrics was about a fifth the cost and the toxicity of materials used (the PVA and canvas) are very friendly to work with;

I asked a boatbuilder friend (who’s been boatbuilding longer than I’ve been alive) if he knew of Arobol. He did, and told me that when working on repairing old fish boats and work boats they also used to use, Tite bond II with great success, and with these being work boats under the harshest working conditions possible, I was convinced right away.