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Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:50 am
by tparsons56
I am looking at a 1940 19' Barrel Back that had a "Danenburg" style [plywood inner layer with planking exterior] installed 10 years ago. Supposedly the boat has had very little use since that time so I don't know how much time it has spent in the water. If I proceed with the purchase I will get a survey but what would be a ballpark estimate of how long this type of bottom will last?

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 1:21 pm
by mfine
My 1962 plywood inner and plank outer bottom without CPES and without 5200 is still in decent shape after more than 5 decades with not so great care for all of them. I would expect a well cared for and well done 5200 bottom to outlast anyone old enough to buy one.

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:18 pm
by boat_art
I have done 5200 bottoms for well over 40 years and never had a failure yet.

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:24 am
by Bilge Rat
Wait, what???

I swear I read that 5200 lasts forever according to the wording on the tubes of the stuff while trying to scrub it out of my hair. I figured that if my boat lasted over 60 years without it, using it in the restoration would allow me to pass the boat on to my great, great, great grandchildren.

Like they would be interested in varnish upkeep.

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:04 am
by boat_art
All of the above answers depend on the quality of the 5200 job however. I have seen them where people skipped steps or used substitutes (such as stainless screws) and they wont last.
Tom

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:56 pm
by tparsons56
Thanks for the replies. Of course now I have a couple more questions.

To start the boat will be used on Lake Charlevoix in Northern Lower Michigan so our season is Memorial Day to the first of October. I plan on storing the boat on a covered hydraulic lift in the summer and a heated [50 to 55 degree] warehouse during the winter.

1. With the 5200 bottom is the moisture content [summer and winter] no longer an issue?
2. Apparently the boat has had little use since the 5200 bottom was installed and was from Colorado which is pretty dry compared to us in Michigan. Here again any issue with moisture content?

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 5:07 pm
by boat_art
Moisture content still an issue....the sides and deck can get too dry and shrink too much.
Inside heated storage is not ideal for wood, unless you can ensure 40% humidity minimum.
Tom

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 10:10 am
by maritimeclassics
I have a restoration shop live in Traverse City and spent most of my childhood on Lake Chalevoix and surrounding area, definitely one of my favorite places on earth. We store them over the winter at 45 degrees and then run 2 humidifiers at 50 % it seems to work well.

Resurrecting this Thread Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 6:18 pm
by North Woody
tparsons56 wrote:
Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:56 pm
Thanks for the replies. Of course now I have a couple more questions.

To start the boat will be used on Lake Charlevoix in Northern Lower Michigan so our season is Memorial Day to the first of October. I plan on storing the boat on a covered hydraulic lift in the summer and a heated [50 to 55 degree] warehouse during the winter.

1. With the 5200 bottom is the moisture content [summer and winter] no longer an issue?
2. Apparently the boat has had little use since the 5200 bottom was installed and was from Colorado which is pretty dry compared to us in Michigan. Here again any issue with moisture content?
I’m resurrecting this old thread and wondering how the storage has gone in the warehouse ....

Tparsons56 - Did you maintain the temp at/below 50 degrees and did you also keep the humidity levels at the suggested 40% minimum? I’ll be in a similar situation starting next winter in Northern Wisconsin with my ‘36 CC Runabout with a new 5200 bottom and I am curious how your boat has done in your set up. Thanks for any updates!

Re: Life span of a 5200 bottom.

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2018 7:22 am
by tparsons56
North Woody - I do store the boat at about 45-50 degrees during the winter and keep a tub of water underneath to help with the humidity. The boat sits on a concrete floor and at times the humidity has gotten down in the 30% range but so far no issues.