A Copper-Nickel Sailboat

[GordMay]

The Asperida, a Copper-Nickel Sailboat after More than Thirty Years in Seawater
by
Harold T. Michels and Kenneth P. Geremia

Copyright NACE International. All rights reserved. Paper Number 05238 reproduced with permission from CORROSION/2005 Annual Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas.

The Asperida is a 16 m pleasure sailboat that was launched in 1967. The hull is made of solid 4 mm thick copper-nickel alloy UNS C71500, which is supported by a 6 mm frame made of the same alloy. During its lifetime, the Asperida has had a few mishaps, including groundings and hitting submerged rocks. Although the hull is dented and a small portion of the keel is crumpled, the hull plates have not ruptured and the welded joints have not fractured. Biofouling resistance has been reported to be good, except for one incident in a notoriously problematic harbor in Spain a few months after being launched. A plastic pot scrubber easily removed any growth on the rare occasions when biofouling occurred. Some areas of the hull have lost a measurable amount of thickness, as determined by ultrasonic measurements, but overall, the loss has not been excessive. No meaningful corrosion or localized attack was observed when the hull was inspected in June 2004. However, weld defects related to trapped gas were found. In summary, the hull, which is believed to be the oldest copper-nickel hull in existence, was in surprisingly good condition...

The final conclusion, in the report:
"... In view of its many attributes, UNS C71500 should be considered seriously as a hull material for pleasure boats, commercial ships and naval vessels."

Goto:
http://www.copper.org/applictions/cu...boat_hull.html

[Alan Wheeler]

It must be a site to behold when moored beside a steel boat I bet. I bet those anodes work overtime.
With the cost of this material today, it's a wonder someone doens't steel the boat. Just imagine, you wake in the morning to find your boat up on blokes in the marina and all the Hull has been cut away.

[delmarrey]

Who could afford to build except for a manufacture.

I've machined my fair share of Monel and Inconels, and they are not fun to work with either. The stuff is tuff but real nice when finished. The Navy uses it a lot in boiler room applications.

Kinda gives new meaning to saving your pennys to build a boat
I wonder how heavy that thing is.

[CaptainK]

Here's a nice website pertaining to that sailboat. Along with lots of photos.

http://www.nickelinstitute.org/index...i_id/13943.htm

[CaptainK]

Asperida Specifications

Type of Sailboat: Auxiliary Ketch
Rig: Marconi
LOA: 16 m / 52.49280 feet [ft]
LOA including Bowsprit: 17.7 m / 58.07016 foot [ft]
LWL: 12.2 m / 40.02576 foot [ft]
Beam: 4.4 m / 14.43552 foot [ft]
Draft: 1.6 m / 5.24928 foot [ft]
Self Bailing Cockpit: Yes
Estimated Displacement: 21,000 kg/ 46,296 lbs


http://www.copper.org/applications/c...boat_hull.html

[Tristan]

I've been the owner of this boat for the last 11 years and have not seen this tread until now !!!
Very pleasant surprise
T.

[S/V Antares]

Revere , The copper clad pot and pan folks mad a very cool looking motoryacht in the thirties of copper.

[heron237]

uh gord starts another one

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by heron237

uh gord starts another one

FIVE years ago!

[James S]

And still quite valid....cool.

[Wolfhound]

Tristan,

An attractive vessel, which we discussed perhaps five years ago on the Wooden Boat Forum.

Your thoughts & comments on her, and any photos, will be much appreciated.

All the best,

Wolfhound