Steel boat shortlist

[Solosailor]

The more I read and the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a steel hull. I would like to hear opinions around this subject.

I want something under 40' that is seakind and and seaworthy but not a slug. Does anyone have a short list?

[Jim Quibell]

RADFORD YACHT DESIGN - Home page

[Solosailor]

Thanks Jim, that looks like a great site!

[Jim Quibell]

Here's a site to a buddy of mine who built a 44' aluminum Radford, and is at this moment underway (see site) to Australia from Bronte.

S/V Falcon GT

[noelex 77]

Great blog Jim
I am an Australian who cheated and purchased a secondhand hand french aluminium Yacht.
Solosailer have you considered aluminum, the advantages are similar to steel without the rust.
Cheers john

[Weyalan]

Make sure the Adams 40' steel yacht is on your list - ideal live-aboard cruiser.

[Boracay]

A 40' steel boat is a major project. You're looking at 4,000+ man hours and $150k+. I have heard of builders putting 10,000 hours into their boat.
Don't forget that the hull is less than one third of the job.
Getting a nice finish on a steel boat is very time consuming.

A boat already in really good condition is the best way to go but if you really want to get your hands dirty then I'd strongly suggest getting a project fibreglass boat with a sound hull and a good reputation. Look at those around 38' and be prepared to do some extensive rebuilding.

Line up your transport and surveyor before you start looking.

[MidLandOne]

Originally Posted by Solosailor

I want something under 40' that is seakind and and seaworthy but not a slug. Does anyone have a short list?

If you go anything much under 40 foot you will end up with a "slug" as it is impossible to build a sailboat in steel at a reasonable weight at those lengths and weight kills speed.

40 foot is often stated as the minimum sensible length and you will find very few boats even at that length that are not significantly overweight when compared to even heavy builds of other materials.

For example, we have a 40 foot cruising sailboat professionally built for us in steel by a builder used to designing and building fast light cruising boats in composites. With a lot of effort and tricks eg no skeg and a composite spade rudder to save the weight of steel in those (and for performance), minimum plate thicknesses everywhere (light! -> as was expected for the build the frames buckled as the boat shrunk as the plating was welded up) and much care in fitout not to overbuild anything, we just managed to keep the weight to about the same as a solidly built fibreglass boat.

A small steel vessel which is overweight may also display other faults such as crankiness, etc due to high centre of gravity and the tendency to trade away keel ballast because of the weight of steel in the boat in efforts to decrease displacement. This can be ameliorated somewhat by using plywood for decks and cabin trunk.

So for the boat size you are talking of, if you don't want a "slug" then if you want metal go to aluminium, else go to fibreglass - that is as others have already suggested. Alternatively if you are very lucky you might find a well built light 40'ish footer or longer, else have one of that length designed and built by people who really know what they are doing (super expensive).

[alsobrsp]

Originally Posted by MidLandOne

If you go anything much under 40 foot you will end up with a "slug" as it is impossible to build a sailboat in steel at a reasonable weight at those lengths and weight kills speed.

I would have to disagree with this. My first boat was a 32' steel yawl. Amazing boat. She could make hull speed in 10-15kt winds under jib and mizzen alone.

Syd

[MidLandOne]

Originally Posted by alsobrsp

I would have to disagree with this. My first boat was a 32' steel yawl. Amazing boat. She could make hull speed in 10-15kt winds under jib and mizzen alone.

Whoops, looks like I am stirring up a hornets nest of small steel boat owners who love their boats .

So I will bow out of this now except to stand by the impossibility of building a servicable steel sail boat much under 40 foot that comes near to matching the displacement of a similarly sized composite one. Displacement kills speed - you will find no reputable designer who will disagree with that.

[Hiracer]

Originally Posted by MidLandOne

Displacement kills speed - you will find no reputable designer who will disagree with that.

N.A. David Gerr spends an entire chapter in one of his books putting a stake in the heart of this myth.

Displacement does not kill speed. Low SA/D does, per David Gerr, N.A.

I know a Caliber 40 is no race boat, but she is a genuine cruiser, like my 36er'. I spotted her 1/4 mile in a 6 knot breeze and in 4 miles I passed on the inside, me pointing higher and faster.

Plastic boats hate my boat.

[MidLandOne]

Originally Posted by Hiracer

N.A. David Gerr spends an entire chapter in one of his books putting a stake in the heart of this myth.

Displacement does not kill speed. Low SA/D does.

Oh, I stand corrected . Am looking forward to seeing the new wave of open class racing sailboats built of steel looking for line honours because displacement does not kill speed .

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by alsobrsp

I would have to disagree with this. My first boat was a 32' steel yawl. Amazing boat. She could make hull speed in 10-15kt winds under jib and mizzen alone.

Syd

That's an awful lot of speed. Can you describe the conditions, and the boat?

Speed is important to get away from weather. I averaged 4 knots over approximently 4k miles. Not to mention get to your destination sooner, so you can spend more time there. I was left out in bad weather when boats averaging 6 knots were comfy in an anchorage already

[Solosailor]

Thanks for all the advice. That pretty much shoots that thought out of the water. I have read that steel hulls under 40' tend to be slow. I think you have confirmed this. The cost of aluminium is out of the question. I guess I'm back at FRP.

I hate slow.

[Celestialsailor]

I have built 2 steel boats and I can still see all my scares from weld burns and metal cuts. I found in the end steel is more maintenance than FRP. Save your money and like others have said...you're better off with a FRP project. Lot's of them around in this economy.