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Alan Wheeler · 11-11-2005, 21:55

Guy's, don't get me wrong. I am not saying FC is the be all and end all to boat building. I too have seen or heard of some real crap out there. I am just saying, don't judge all FC based on one poor example of a boat you may have in the neighbourhood.
As I said, most of the old crap has all but gone now. And I imagine that this thing you have across the canal is not used, nor has been for many years. Probably forgotten about? I would imagine if someone had any time for it, it probably would have been sunk many years ago as well.

Here's where I believe we FC owners are going to start having issues in the future. The old guy's with the experiance in FC building are getting few and far between now. There is just not enough knowledge out there anymore for surveys and advice on FC hulls. It's going to get harder and harder to get a hull inspected. One guy here that I have been learning a lot from, has long been retired. He doesn't want to be crawling around in bilges anymore and fair enough too. But the biggest problem he has is liability. So he has to have insurance and as he may only inspect 2-3 hulls a year here, the cost of holding insurance just can't be justified.

11-11-2005, 21:55	#54
Alan Wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady Posts: 8,042	Guy's, don't get me wrong. I am not saying FC is the be all and end all to boat building. I too have seen or heard of some real crap out there. I am just saying, don't judge all FC based on one poor example of a boat you may have in the neighbourhood. As I said, most of the old crap has all but gone now. And I imagine that this thing you have across the canal is not used, nor has been for many years. Probably forgotten about? I would imagine if someone had any time for it, it probably would have been sunk many years ago as well. Here's where I believe we FC owners are going to start having issues in the future. The old guy's with the experiance in FC building are getting few and far between now. There is just not enough knowledge out there anymore for surveys and advice on FC hulls. It's going to get harder and harder to get a hull inspected. One guy here that I have been learning a lot from, has long been retired. He doesn't want to be crawling around in bilges anymore and fair enough too. But the biggest problem he has is liability. So he has to have insurance and as he may only inspect 2-3 hulls a year here, the cost of holding insurance just can't be justified. __________________ Wheels For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.