Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

[tomlen]

Hi!

I am restoring a clinker built UK lifeboat that was built in 1802. It is clinker built and the inboard hull is covered in tar pitch.Before I can get a grant to restore the vessel I have to demonstrate that I can remove the pitch from inside in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Has anyone done this before? Can anyone give me some guidelines to deal with this problem?:grumpy:

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Hello tomlen,
Welcome to the Iboats restoration forum.
I apologize, but I would not know where to begin on a project such as this...
I am however very interested to see what the vessel looks like and how the project evolves...
There are a few "old timers" that hang around the forum and one of them may pop by and have some insight for you...
There are also some extremely knowledgeable folks that may be able to get you some of the information you are seeking.
I can only wish you the best of luck on your venture and hopefully I may come across some useful info that I can share along with learning a new aspect of boat restoration.
Regards,
Gus

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

I'm sure interested too, seeing is believing and you will get ideas if you can post up a picture or two. My first thought about removing the tar/pitch, involves some type of controlled heat. But show us what you see then watch the ideas roll in.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Sounds interesting, ..... My kind of project! As has been mentioned I would try heat & a scraper (heat gun).
I am curious, Is she constructed with sawn frames or steam bent ribs; and the fastenings, are they rivets or clench nails? Would I be correct in guessing she is probably planked in larch (or what wood)?
As much as this is an interesting forum, the knowledge base here really is around fiberglass. I would recommend you check out the Woodenboat forum, you will get much better information there. There are also a good number of ‘regulars’ from the UK over there.
Someone on the Woodenboat forum may also have experience in removing pine tar pitch.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Conversely Extreme cold would/could make it hard and brittle and possible to break it free. I also agree with looking into the Woodenboat forum.

 

[PS94]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Dry ice blasting.. we use it for cleaning pine pitch off our Debarker units here in a sawmill in northern Alberta, Canada...expensive, but cleans em like new, doesn't damage the underlying equipment and its about 1/4 the time of manually depitching with needle scalers or air chisels.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Dry ice blasting.. we use it for cleaning pine pitch off our Debarker units here in a sawmill in northern Alberta, Canada...expensive, but cleans em like new, doesn't damage the underlying equipment and its about 1/4 the time of manually depitching with needle scalers or air chisels.

Kinda where I was going with the COLD thing. Heard about it but never seen it done!!! Since this has historical significance maybe you could get some "Donations" to get involved.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Zetland Lifeboat (1802)

Sorry to disagree guys, but I would not use or recommend any kind of media blasting for this. I suspect the pitch is a much harder surface than the underlying wood (UK, .... typically larch planking), and you would probably chew the planking up terribly. .... This is 200 yr old pine tar pitch on soft wood, not on steel.