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30-08-2014, 20:09
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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100% Maintenance FREE?
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to hear people's thoughts on this...
My friend is building/designing a new 50' cat out of aluminum. He says that it will be virtually 100%maintenance free. Is that possible? Anyone own or have experience with an aluminum boat/cat?
Thanks,
T.B.
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30-08-2014, 20:17
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: on board, Australia
Boat: 11meter Power catamaran
Posts: 3,648
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
A maintenance free boat.
No vessel is maintenance free and the systems are all the same. Electrics, motors, sails, etc, etc.
A non painted Al hull may have some less painting requirement but 100% main free. ********.
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30-08-2014, 20:18
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Sanibel, FL
Boat: currently a power boat :(
Posts: 249
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Maintenance free? I'll take 2 Many threads here on any metals, maintenance and the sea! In any case, would be interesting to see his design
__________________
Regards,
Skye
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30-08-2014, 20:32
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Downunder,
What "maintenance" would aluminum require? Is painting required?
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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30-08-2014, 20:34
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
His design is very promising. File tanks equaly redistributed on the bottom so the vessel goes up and down as they empty, 3,000 miles worth of file. Solar panels, and interior of an antares....I'm interested.
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30-08-2014, 20:39
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Fuel tanks
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30-08-2014, 23:25
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Washington State
Boat: Colvin, Saugeen Witch (Aluminum), 34'
Posts: 2,269
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
The only possessions of mine that I consider truly maintenance free are the landscape rocks in my garden.
That said, I tried to set up Panope for low longterm maintenace. Here are a few areas that require less maintenance than with other hull types:
-High wear points unpainted and unpolished.
-Solid, impervious decks eliminates leaks and the recoreing/re-building of deck structure.
-Deck hardware welded in place so no repedative re-bedding of hardware.
-Hull penatrations are welded standpipes so no thru hull replacement/maintenance.
-No hull blisters or waterlogged rudders. Yes, corrosion is a threat of similar (or greater?) magnitude but I think that people (like me) worry about it too much. Panope as had no hull corrosion in 19 years of saltwater emersion. Even a couple spots (jack stands) that had no paint (for several years) were corrosion free.
-This is subjective, but to my eye, a welded metal boat can get away with elements that are simple, overbuilt and (dare I say it) crude. In this same light, a metal boat can get away a brushed on, "textured" paint surfaces that can be quickly touched up without needing to re-spray (or re-tip) an entire large area. Again, totally subjective.
Steve
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31-08-2014, 00:37
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#8
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,241
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Welcome aboard Tabakke;
Please please please be assured there is no maintenance free boat!!!!!!
And if your friend ever drops a brass swivel or some cut off ends of copper wire into the bilge, it will far more maintenance intensive than other building materials. That isn't to say that a Al hull should be avoided, there are many positives to Al.
However if he wants a real maintenance free deal, I have a nice bridge available for sale
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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31-08-2014, 02:13
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Home at Warsaw, Poland, boat in Eastern Med
Boat: Ocean Star 56.1 LR
Posts: 1,841
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbakke
Downunder,
What "maintenance" would aluminum require? Is painting required?
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All normal problems regarding fouling and antifouling - and it is most of any hull maintenance
Cheers,
Tomasz
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31-08-2014, 03:09
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ohio
Boat: Now boatless :-(
Posts: 11,580
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbakke
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to hear people's thoughts on this...
My friend is building/designing a new 50' cat out of aluminum. He says that it will be virtually 100%maintenance free. Is that possible? Anyone own or have experience with an aluminum boat/cat?
Thanks,
T.B.
Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
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Yes I have heard of these. The engine is fueled by dihydrogen-oxide, it always is able to sail a beam reach regardless of destination, it sails faster than any storm, it is unsinkable, never drags the hook and is crewed by unicorns.
Oh, wait. You said virtual - Yes virtual boats are maintenance free.
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31-08-2014, 03:36
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Palatka, Florida
Boat: 1902 Dutch Tjalk, 64'
Posts: 317
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Due to circumstances beyond my control, Neeltje's been "maintenance free" for some time now, and it shows...
Jacques
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31-08-2014, 10:49
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#12
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: We have a problem... A serious addiction issue.
Posts: 3,974
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
No such animal as a maintenance free boat.
At a minimum the hull will need regular anti-fouling, an aluminium hull will also need cathodic protection. But this is the same as for any boat.
Frankly the vast majority of boat maintenance has nothing to do with the hull, and everything to do with the internal systems. In all my years of living on, working on, and maintaining boats I can't think of any boat (except wooden hulls) where the hull itself needed much regular maintenance.
__________________
Greg
- If animals weren't meant to be eaten then they wouldn't be made of food.
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31-08-2014, 10:55
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
Thank you everyone, very helpful feedback!
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31-08-2014, 11:02
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#14
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
It won't be 100% maintenance free, but certainly theres boats being made now that are as close to that as possible.
ONe failing, and its a serious failing, is many would be cruisers buy boats with maintenance to be done on them in a constant manner.
For many it kills a cruise and a relationship.
Find out why your friend thinks its going to less maintenance than other boats. The factors that are real are very important if you want to go for long distance cruises over a long period of time.
Mark
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31-08-2014, 12:13
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Naples Fl
Boat: Kadey Krogen 38 cutter
Posts: 355
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?
The only thing you will ever own that is maintenance free is your casket.
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