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Old 30-08-2014, 20:09   #1
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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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Old 30-08-2014, 20:17   #2
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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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Old 30-08-2014, 20:18   #3
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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
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Old 30-08-2014, 20:32   #4
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?

Downunder,
What "maintenance" would aluminum require? Is painting required?

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Old 30-08-2014, 20:34   #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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Old 30-08-2014, 20:39   #6
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?

Fuel tanks

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Old 30-08-2014, 23:25   #7
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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.

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Old 31-08-2014, 00:37   #8
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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
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Old 31-08-2014, 02:13   #9
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?

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Originally Posted by tbakke View Post
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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Old 31-08-2014, 03:09   #10
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbakke View Post
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
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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Old 31-08-2014, 03:36   #11
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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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Old 31-08-2014, 10:49   #12
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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.
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Old 31-08-2014, 10:55   #13
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Re: 100% Maintenance FREE?

Thank you everyone, very helpful feedback!

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Old 31-08-2014, 11:02   #14
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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.

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Old 31-08-2014, 12:13   #15
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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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