Ferro Cement Hull Sailboats ?

[pierat]

i mean how cheap can they get
34' sailboat

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by pierat

i mean how cheap can they get
34' sailboat

How sweet can they look....
Just be careful of home builds... some are awesome... some are aweful...

[S/V Alchemy]

You could just gut that for parts and wood and be ahead of the game.

I don't mean to be nasty about it, but I've seen plenty of older boats rotting on the hard with yards of teak inside them that could be recycled into something that didn't require sawing down an orangutan's treefort in Borneo.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

You could just gut that for parts and wood and be ahead of the game.

I don't mean to be nasty about it, but I've seen plenty of older boats rotting on the hard with yards of teak inside them that could be recycled into something that didn't require sawing down an orangutan's treefort in Borneo.

True.... but someone like me could call that 'home'..... if sound and the interior looked as attractive....LOL

[ziptie-ducktape]

some are really great some are shoddy, but they are great value just have to have a good look before you jump in, also they are impossible to insure

[ncarter]

The general rule of thumb regarding ferro is this...if it appears to be home made..run ! However, if you can not initially tell its ferro, than take a closer look. I have seen ferro hulls that were so fair that it was almost impossible to tell the cement from FRP. If done right ferro can last a very long time, and is tough as nails. *pay particularly close attention to the engine stringers and the areas under the mast...if you have to make any repairs or modifications, then be prepared for a night-mare.

[Wand]

Originally Posted by ncarter

...if you have to make any repairs or modifications, then be prepared for a night-mare.

Sorry mate but that last bit is nonsense. Repairs are as easy as. Skills are basic, comparable to fibreglass work - and the materials cheaper. Modifications are of course trickier but bloke in our club turned a 36 footer into 42 footer without too much strife.

[smallyachts]

Paid X for Sam McGee, paid x to have her pulled off the sand bar at Grant Island. Jumped on board put the new headsail on the furler and sailed her 558 miles. Had to layover in Vero Beach to replace the tiller handle (a piece of wood). Had to crank down the shrouds to get the mizzen mast to finally settle through the rotted mast step onto the steel mast mount (another piece of wood). See the story here: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ent-40414.html

As soon as Tin Cup is back in the water, Sam McGee will be going to a new home, the word is out in the basin that she is for sale, currently entertaining offers between 1.5X and 2X, just got to get the other boat done first.

Usually the biggest problems we find on Ferro boats is rotted or watersoaked woodwork, which then causes issues with moisture getting into the cement and attacking the steel armature.

Fiberglass boats have a long way to go to achieve the life span of many Ferro boats. I believe to date the oldest sailing ferro boat is a little over 100 years old and still sailing the med, not to mention all the ferro structures that were floated over (makes them a vessel) for D-Day that are still in place.

The self reliance movement and rush to build ferro boats back in the 60's and 70's caused a lot of bad examples to be built in backyards and farm fields and as a result most american based insurance companies will not insure them.

There are a few qualified surveyors with experience in Ferro Cement that can give you a survey that will be accepted by some of the international marine insurers.

The fact is Ferro boats last a long time, sadly the uglier examples seem to be lasting the longest, at least in the minds of the inexperienced or uninformed.


BTW X= 6 x=1