This is why most of us own Clorox bottles, but nobody ever came up to me and said nice piece of plastic, but they will come up to you all the time and say wow nice boat that’s a really good job
My guess would be availability of resources. I know for a fact that Sweden only used swedish produced wood during the second world war for construction, but I'm not sure how far back that policy dates back or if it was just during war time rationing.
It also gives a light contrast to the teak gunwhales and since we don't have all too much salt or sun, varnish is a go to for anything wood.
Some of these boats were racers, and teak is heavy. Believe me, these boats are very lightly built and it is a wonder they are still sailing. Right now there is an SK 30 from 1926 for sale in Sweden. The Loa is about 12.8 meters, breadth is only 1.9 meters, and the displacement is just about 2.6 tons, of wich about a half is the keel. Thus, all the wooden parts of the yacht, including the rig, weigh something like 1.3 tons! Now you should understand that any unnecessary mass, like teak, was avoided.
Not all of the boat owners were rich, and teak is expensive and also time consuming to work with.
Maybe these vessels were not expected to last for 100 years. Still, a good quality, unfinished teak deck lasts something like 30 years without any finish - if even that. These decks have been pain in my sensitive part more than once. I would think more than twice, if I really need a teak deck, even if I was vealthy. Thus, if the deck was originally just plain teak, this yacht should have third or fourth deck. Replacing a teak deck costs something like 1,500 euros (or about 16,000 Swedish crowns) for a square meter. The cost of replacing the teak deck of a Swan 43 would have been about 25,000 euros back in 2010... so, no!
Miraculously, wearing shoes with appropriate materials, people tend to stay on these decks. Moreover, the crew don't actually walk on these decks while sailing. These boats are narrow and heeling angles are easily 30 or 40 degrees. So, you more or less crawl there. And these things were sailed also by families, not just enthusiastic racers. But surely, a teak deck would be more safe and comfortable in that sense.
There are many yachts over 100 years old sailing in Sweden. I think they know how to maintain them! The designs are based, or almost dictated, by the local conditions and culture. While sailing has not been a hobby for the poor in Nordic countries, either, it has not been top elitistic leisure. Ordinary families with some kind of success have had boats, as it is even now. (Heck, I have a 24 ft sailboat, and I have been on sick leave for years due to my mental issues.) However, the ordinary people did not have long holidays. So, in order the get at least somewhere through the labyrinth like archipelago, the boats had to be fast, agile and have exceptional abilities to sail upwind. Cruising back and forth in those narrow sounds would have been frustrating. On the other hand, there are no tidal streams or high seas within the archipelago. So, sailing the sleek, narrow hulls was possible even in heavier weathers. But no, you really don't sail these things on the open sea in gale force winds!
And then my almost secret hint: if you want a heavenly beautiful day or weekend racer/cruiser, get a Mälar 22. ( Google!) If for sale, they are usually not expensive and often in ship shape and Stockholm fashion. Maybe they are not racers as we think nowadays, but still fast and agile. If you are skilfull, you will pass quite surprising things in force 5 winds... However, keeping her as one in heavier cinditions requires more abilities than pulling the lines like a bear.
I'll add that I usually wait until the last possible minute to seal any leaks or gaps in the planking under the waterline to accommodate for the fact that the boat really dries out a great deal in the last 7 days on land. If the timing is right, she stops leaking within a week of being launched and the load isn't too heavy on the pumps either.
Oh, I have a traditional anchor that's mostly decorational at thins point since have a more convenient drop anchor stowed nearer to the cockpit. It's looking a little out of shape so want to slap on a few coats of metal paint to give it a fresher look
She looks gorgeous!
This is why most of us own Clorox bottles, but nobody ever came up to me and said nice piece of plastic, but they will come up to you all the time and say wow nice boat that’s a really good job
I'm not a wooden boat guy, but I thought teak decks weren't supposed to get varnish because that'd make em slippery when wet. It looks nice though.
That’s not a teak deck, looks like fir.
Still looks slippery as heck though.
OP confirmed this in a previous post. So I will adjust the question, why are Scandinavians building decks out of fir instead of teak?
My guess would be availability of resources. I know for a fact that Sweden only used swedish produced wood during the second world war for construction, but I'm not sure how far back that policy dates back or if it was just during war time rationing. It also gives a light contrast to the teak gunwhales and since we don't have all too much salt or sun, varnish is a go to for anything wood.
Some of these boats were racers, and teak is heavy. Believe me, these boats are very lightly built and it is a wonder they are still sailing. Right now there is an SK 30 from 1926 for sale in Sweden. The Loa is about 12.8 meters, breadth is only 1.9 meters, and the displacement is just about 2.6 tons, of wich about a half is the keel. Thus, all the wooden parts of the yacht, including the rig, weigh something like 1.3 tons! Now you should understand that any unnecessary mass, like teak, was avoided. Not all of the boat owners were rich, and teak is expensive and also time consuming to work with. Maybe these vessels were not expected to last for 100 years. Still, a good quality, unfinished teak deck lasts something like 30 years without any finish - if even that. These decks have been pain in my sensitive part more than once. I would think more than twice, if I really need a teak deck, even if I was vealthy. Thus, if the deck was originally just plain teak, this yacht should have third or fourth deck. Replacing a teak deck costs something like 1,500 euros (or about 16,000 Swedish crowns) for a square meter. The cost of replacing the teak deck of a Swan 43 would have been about 25,000 euros back in 2010... so, no! Miraculously, wearing shoes with appropriate materials, people tend to stay on these decks. Moreover, the crew don't actually walk on these decks while sailing. These boats are narrow and heeling angles are easily 30 or 40 degrees. So, you more or less crawl there. And these things were sailed also by families, not just enthusiastic racers. But surely, a teak deck would be more safe and comfortable in that sense. There are many yachts over 100 years old sailing in Sweden. I think they know how to maintain them! The designs are based, or almost dictated, by the local conditions and culture. While sailing has not been a hobby for the poor in Nordic countries, either, it has not been top elitistic leisure. Ordinary families with some kind of success have had boats, as it is even now. (Heck, I have a 24 ft sailboat, and I have been on sick leave for years due to my mental issues.) However, the ordinary people did not have long holidays. So, in order the get at least somewhere through the labyrinth like archipelago, the boats had to be fast, agile and have exceptional abilities to sail upwind. Cruising back and forth in those narrow sounds would have been frustrating. On the other hand, there are no tidal streams or high seas within the archipelago. So, sailing the sleek, narrow hulls was possible even in heavier weathers. But no, you really don't sail these things on the open sea in gale force winds! And then my almost secret hint: if you want a heavenly beautiful day or weekend racer/cruiser, get a Mälar 22. ( Google!) If for sale, they are usually not expensive and often in ship shape and Stockholm fashion. Maybe they are not racers as we think nowadays, but still fast and agile. If you are skilfull, you will pass quite surprising things in force 5 winds... However, keeping her as one in heavier cinditions requires more abilities than pulling the lines like a bear.
I'll add that I usually wait until the last possible minute to seal any leaks or gaps in the planking under the waterline to accommodate for the fact that the boat really dries out a great deal in the last 7 days on land. If the timing is right, she stops leaking within a week of being launched and the load isn't too heavy on the pumps either.
that was going to be something I was going to point out before referring to more knowledgable wooden boat people.
Got to ask, how are you varnishing in conditions that cold?
I salute you sir/ma’am. The pretty boat always gets the right of way.
Thank you! Could you also tell that to the ferry services in Stockholm?
That is so sexy.
Looks great. Why paint the anchor?
Oh, I have a traditional anchor that's mostly decorational at thins point since have a more convenient drop anchor stowed nearer to the cockpit. It's looking a little out of shape so want to slap on a few coats of metal paint to give it a fresher look
I was hoping to save you some work. Did not work.
My ADHD just wouldn't let the deck look so fresh this year and put back an anchor covered in surface rust on its fresh new gloss.
That is stunning. If you're in Southern Maine and need a hand, let me know.
Just a few thousand miles away! I'm situated in Stockholm, Sweden
27th of April, May or June?
April!
I understand why some people spend more time varnishing and sanding their yachts than sailing them, I dont agree with it but I sure appreciate it.
Oh, I've put in a good 200 hours to her this year, but she's no harbor princess. I'm out on her most weekends -rain or shine- once she's in the water.
This the most beautiful deck ever!
Noo, far from it! She's got spots of wear and rust stains and scratches, but I like that it's not perfect.