Hi Guys
I have my timber boat in a creek over the winter months and it usually just sits in the mud on the long keel and floats at high tide sits on a wide lead slipper and dries out at low.
Would it be a good idea to put say some concrete pavers down for her keel to sit on instead of the mud.
Im thinking anything you put under the keel would vanish into the mud, then there would be a risk of a paver turning on edge and gouging the boat.
The photo shows very little of the keel in the mud so the mud must be reasonably firm. If you are confident the mud does not gradually grind off the antifoul and you are confident there are no teredo worms or equivalent residing in the mud that attack the timber then leave as is.
In any case, I'd place four or five suitable timber sleepers at right angles to and spaced equally along the keel on top of the mud so the keel then rests on those. "Suitable" means something that teredo worms and other pests do not like and something that will stay on the mud (ie: not float away).
As long as the mooring is not close to the bank and not near any sunken timber I would leave it alone. Check out how the British handle this situation, a lot of their moorings are that type.
Muddy Creek (Panatana Rivulet)... my Grandpa had a well cared for wooden boat there for decades without any worries. It wasn't until he sold her and she was put permanently on a mooring and neglected that she rotted, eventually becoming a lost cause:(
Its a magical part of the word, unfortunately harbouring many broken dreams.
Thanks for the replies.
I will sit her in the mud think its the best option
Yes All@sea it is in muddy creek at port sorell pretty much on the site of the old slip where charlie richie snr and murray griffiths built and repaired many timber boats many moons ago.
The creek is still the boating hub at port sorell many boats winter in this little bolt hole very protected and safe also a good spot to do maintenace on over winter.
