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Old 05-08-2011, 08:27   #1
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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.

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Old 05-08-2011, 09:12   #2
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 09:14   #3
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 09:17   #4
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?

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Originally Posted by Aussie_Sequoia View Post
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 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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Old 05-08-2011, 09:22   #5
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?

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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.
I agree but if a 70s boat was a good hull when new its probably still good today
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Old 05-08-2011, 09:29   #6
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull?

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I agree but if a 70s boat was a good hull when new its probably still good today
I sure hope so. Wish it were the same for wooden masts.
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Old 05-08-2011, 09:29   #7
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 09:42   #8
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 11:48   #9
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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
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Old 05-08-2011, 15:51   #10
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 16:15   #11
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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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Old 05-08-2011, 18:04   #12
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?

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Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?
No....


... not unless you get the dreaded glass worms.
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Old 05-08-2011, 18:17   #13
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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.
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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Old 05-08-2011, 19:37   #14
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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.
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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Old 05-08-2011, 19:46   #15
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Re: Is Age a Factor in the Seaworthiness of a Glass Hull ?

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Did I mention, This boat is older than I am?
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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