135+ year old wooden boat

[Mako]

So how do you build a wooden boat that will last 135 years, while sitting in fresh water the whole time? I really don't know, but someone during the Civil War did.

I went diving last weekend in Troy Spring in northern Florida and here (I'm told) are the ribs of a Civil War barge that sank/sunk/sinked. The wood was so hard I could not budge the brass pins sticking out.

Anyway, I thought this was amazing. Perhaps it was built from Live Oak, or maybe just old growth cypress. Maybe one of you guys knows more about this.

 

[AlaskaProf]

Asking price? Owner financing? Recent survey?

 

[ben2go]

So how do you build a wooden boat that will last 135 years, while sitting in fresh water the whole time? I really don't know, but someone during the Civil War did.

I went diving last weekend in Troy Spring in northern Florida and here (I'm told) are the ribs of a Civil War barge that sank/sunk/sinked. The wood was so hard I could not budge the brass pins sticking out.

Anyway, I thought this was amazing. Perhaps it was built from Live Oak, or maybe just old growth cypress. Maybe one of you guys knows more about this.

From my understanding, barges weren't built with quality woods like oak. That was saved for the higher end boats and passenger vessels. They usually used whatever could be had quick, close, and in large quantities. Barges take a lot of long straight lumber.

 

[Mako]

Must have been old growth cypress then. They are abundant in that area.

 

[ben2go]

Must have been old growth cypress then. They are abundant in that area.

Very possible.

 

[O C Diver]

I dove that wreck 30 years ago. According to Ned DeLoach's Diving Guide to Underwater Florida, that is the Old Suwannee river steamboat "Madison ". It was scuttled in September of 1863.



Ted