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category4jay · 20-06-2019, 14:01

When I was a lot younger I met a guy who was building a 70’ +/- ferro cement boat in I believe Oregon City, Oregon. The year was around 1978. The hull was complete and he was working on the interior. Seems he had a long way to go before he put her in the water. I know it’s a long shot but I’m curious to know whatever became of that project. Any super sleuths out there that can find out anything? I’ll buy ya a cold one. Thanks.

sailormed · 20-06-2019, 14:16

These days owners of well maintained ferro cement boats are giving away their boats ..... and still have difficulty finding a new owner. The tide has turned. Good luck with your search.

wingssail · 20-06-2019, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailormed

These days owners of well maintained ferro cement boats are giving away their boats ..... and still have difficulty finding a new owner. The tide has turned. Good luck with your search.

There have been some very nice ferro boats built. This one, a 60' Laurie Davidson design is a good example.

Key is: Top name designer and professional builders. Do not consider an amateur job without a lot of inspection and trepidation. A home built project, unfinished after many years, will not be a great boat, even if free.

category4jay · 20-06-2019, 14:34

Agreed. And thanks. I never thought the words “cement” and “hull” should ever go together in one sentence. I just remember this massive hull sitting in a yard a long way from any water. Who knows maybe it’s still sitting in the exact spot even today.

category4jay · 20-06-2019, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingssail

There have been some very nice ferro boats built. This one, a 60' Laurie Davidson design is a good example.

Key is: Top name designer and professional builders. Do not consider an amateur job without a lot of inspection and trepidation. A home built project, unfinished after many years, will not be a great boat, even if free.

I must admit that is a nice looking boat right there!!

wingless · 20-06-2019, 15:24

There is an elder gentleman working on his smaller ferro cement boat at Angler's Avenue Marine Center in Dania Beach, FL.

Fore and Aft · 20-06-2019, 15:27

Your thread starter had me checking the calendar to see if it was April 1st again.
The Sayers in New Zealand built some excellent ferro yachts. One called SoothSayer looked liked like a glass yacht.
Cheers

CSY Man · 20-06-2019, 15:36

Here is one:

**roverhi** · 20-06-2019, 15:40

We built our Westsail in a Ferro Cement yard in Costa Mesa. 15-20 way too large Sampson designs. Most were in some state of abandonment and/or for sale. Only one 35' boat near completion after more than 5 years of work by a retired builder. Went back to the yard 10 years after we launched and all except the one were still there and all pretty much in the same state of uncompletion as they were 10 years before. 35 years later the yard had been turned into a condominium. Wonder if any of those boats ever got finished or not broken up when the yard closed.

Fore and Aft · 20-06-2019, 15:43

This is what I call a big ferro boat. I would loved to have seen her.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...idnt-sink.html
Cheers

RaymondR · 20-06-2019, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by category4jay

Agreed. And thanks. I never thought the words “cement” and “hull” should ever go together in one sentence. I just remember this massive hull sitting in a yard a long way from any water. Who knows maybe it’s still sitting in the exact spot even today.

With the amount of rebar and mesh they usually had in them they are basically a steel boat with the cement filling up the holes.

If they are properly built and kept from bumping into things they are very low maintenance hulls with one major advantage over wood and FG - ferro does not burn.

oleman · 21-06-2019, 08:15

Not a sail boat but the USN Base in Subic Bay, PI had a very large floating drydock built from cement in at the end of WWII, still in use the last time I was there in1977.

HopCar · 21-06-2019, 08:24

A concrete boat! Are you out of your mind? Do you know what happens when you throw a chunk of concrete in water? At least when you throw a chunk of fiberglass in water it.... oh wait, never mind.