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05-08-2011, 08:27
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 874
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Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
... Does the age alone of a glass hull necessarily increase the risk of delamination, osmosis or other problems?
To my way of thinking, a well maintained 30 year old glass boat is not necessarily a liability.
It would seem that the maintenance of the boat (or lack thereof) plus any possible collision damage to the hull would be much more of a factor than the age of a well-constructed glass hull.
Comments anyone?
G2L
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05-08-2011, 09:12
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Boat: Prout Event 34
Posts: 251
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
I would agree. I think that a well maintained, late seventies, hand laid, solid hull may very possibly be stronger than some of the new production boat hulls available today.
I was talking the other day to an old boat builder who was making boats from that era and he reckons that there in no reason why some of those older hulls wouldn't last a hundred years.
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05-08-2011, 09:14
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Boat: Pearson 281
Posts: 684
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
"...well-constructed glass hull."
There we go, thats the key.
I had a freebie 32' LeComte Medalist built in the 60s with a very thin hull lay-up stiffened with stringers. This was bad enough for the oil canning on the stands but there were also largish patches of resin starved hull and one area near the turn down to the keel that was constantly damp. This is what convinced me to let go of the boat as pretty as she was. Would have made a nice classic plastic showboat for weekending/daysailing but not a cruiser!
Original lay-up is everything.
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05-08-2011, 09:17
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: A real life Zombie from FL
Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris
Posts: 5,416
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_Sequoia
I would agree. I think that a well maintained, late seventies, hand laid, solid hull may very possibly be stronger than some of the new production boat hulls available today. . .
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I would agree with that observation up to a point. Around the mid to late 90's the mainline boat manufacturers changed their whole process of "laying up" a hull. Using SCRIMP or similar procedures resulted in a superior hull with much less weight. Also some mainline manufacturers started using several layers of vinyl-ester resin as the exterior layers to a large part eliminating the osmosis problems of the "middle years" boats.
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05-08-2011, 09:22
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,409
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
Quote:
Originally Posted by osirissail
I would agree with that observation up to a point. Around the mid to late 90's the mainline boat manufacturers changed their whole process of "laying up" a hull. Using SCRIMP or similar procedures resulted in a superior hull with much less weight. Also some mainline manufacturers started using several layers of vinyl-ester resin as the exterior layers to a large part eliminating the osmosis problems of the "middle years" boats.
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I agree but if a 70s boat was a good hull when new its probably still good today
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05-08-2011, 09:29
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Boat: Far East Mariner 40
Posts: 303
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
Quote:
Originally Posted by motion30
I agree but if a 70s boat was a good hull when new its probably still good today
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I sure hope so. Wish it were the same for wooden masts.
__________________
I do all my own stunts.
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05-08-2011, 09:29
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Wash DC
Boat: PETERSON 44
Posts: 3,165
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
There is also more then just the glass hull. The hull to deck joint may need work after years of working or the Bulkhead tabbing, tanks etc... some of this may be maintenance I think it falls into more of a refit category. I own a 79 structurally I havent had to do much. Maintenance I have done a lot.
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05-08-2011, 09:42
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Avalon, NJ
Boat: Albin 40 double cabin Trawler
Posts: 1,886
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?
Therre are WWII hulls (old navy whale boats and tenders) that are still in service today with NO blisytering or weak issues problems.
So yes...the original layup is an issue...mid 70's boats had a lot of blistering issues due to polyester reformulation due to the "gas" shortage.
A hard tap with a hammer (I prefer a 5 pound slegde) will tell a lot.
In my current job I run a boat (mid 80s) that has NO wood where the stringers should be....the lapping glass is taking up the strength...and the boat is in hard commercial operation.
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05-08-2011, 11:48
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#9
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
See: "Heart of Glass: Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Made Them" ~ by Daniel Spurr,
International Marine/McGraw-Hill
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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05-08-2011, 15:51
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
I run a 1975 boat with no problems with the hull. I doubt there will be problems 35 years from now either, but your not taking a 5 lb sledge to it!.
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05-08-2011, 16:15
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Boat: Tartan 30
Posts: 1,548
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My '74 hull is blister free (and no major bottom jobs ever done), hardwood bulkeads still solid, no tabbing issues, hull/deck joint is leak free, and the keel bolts are as good as new after living in murky water their whole life. The boat hasn't even had a working bilge pump in 15 years
Depends on the builder. If it was done well to start with, and treated well enough, age is not a factor.
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05-08-2011, 18:04
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cruising NC, FL, Bahamas, TCI & VIs
Boat: 1964 Pearson Ariel 'Faith' / Pearson 424, sv Emerald Tide
Posts: 1,531
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
Quote:
Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
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No....
... not unless you get the dreaded glass worms.
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05-08-2011, 18:17
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Wash DC
Boat: PETERSON 44
Posts: 3,165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by callmecrazy
My '74 hull is blister free (and no major bottom jobs ever done), hardwood bulkeads still solid, no tabbing issues, hull/deck joint is leak free, and the keel bolts are as good as new after living in murky water their whole life. The boat hasn't even had a working bilge pump in 15 years
Depends on the builder. If it was done well to start with, and treated well enough, age is not a factor.
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And we know the keel bolts are okay because? The keel is stool there or some other method. Not being screwey just curious.
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05-08-2011, 19:37
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Boat: Tartan 30
Posts: 1,548
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sabray
And we know the keel bolts are okay because? The keel is stool there or some other method. Not being screwey just curious.
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Because there is no sign of corrosion, the keel has never moved, no leaks, no bolts worked loose, no separation from the hull joint... What else is there? The bolts are embeded in lead, then the keel is bonded to the hull, then it's bolted through about 6 (or more) inches of glass (&?) reinforcement. Nothing to worry about there any time soon
Did I mention, This boat is older than I am?
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05-08-2011, 19:46
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kansas City, MO
Boat: In the hunt again, unknown
Posts: 1,331
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by callmecrazy
Did I mention, This boat is older than I am?
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The USS Constitution and HMS Victory bearly have a few people I could name on here beat.
I'd agree with the 40 year old hulls still sailing, if they made it this long, they are pretty sound.
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