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06-05-2012, 17:30
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wasilla AK
Posts: 181
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How Long Will It Last?
How long will a well maintained fiber-glass yacht last? On another hand, how long will other yachts built with other materials last?
And please focus here.
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06-05-2012, 17:48
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,472
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
I bought a 1973 Morgan in the fall of '73. I'm now cruising my 1973 Morgan from Florida to Maine and completing my twentieth trip along the US East Coast. I've not given any special treatment to the hull other than basic care; however, I have replaced the rigging and sails more than once. I expect the report of the failure of my boat will have to be made by someone far younger than myself.
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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06-05-2012, 18:06
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chester, MD for now
Boat: Pearson Ariel 264
Posts: 124
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
1965 Pearson Ariel going strong. 47yrs and counting, early glass boats were layed up thick.
__________________
Keith
International Man of Leisure
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06-05-2012, 18:28
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#4
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
depends on how you care for her.
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06-05-2012, 18:35
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Boat: Will be a 50' Cat
Posts: 382
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Related to this... is there a wax or some kind of compond you can apply on an old fiberglass boat to make it like new again ? Take that old dull weathered look off ?
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06-05-2012, 18:46
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wasilla AK
Posts: 181
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Again, I'm talking about basic care for the boat, avoiding groundings and collisions.
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06-05-2012, 18:57
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
The first Resin boats were built in the '40s using cotton fabric instead of fiberglass. The ones that weren't physically destroyed were still going strong 30 years later. Using fiberglass instead of cotton only increases the life expectancy. Keep osmosis from dissolving the resin and UV from breaking it down and they should last for at least a lifetime given prudent construction practices and scantlings.
What other types of construction are you thinking about?? Steel will last a similarly long time but with a lot more care if you keep the rustermites away and/or replace corrosion weakened areas. Aluminum should also last a long time if you can keep electolysis at bay. Wooden boats can go on forever, all it takes is time and a big pile of money to keep rebuilding them. Dorade is on at least here third life after two previous extensive rebuilds and hear the USS Constitution is less than 10% original wood.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
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06-05-2012, 18:59
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Montegut LA.
Boat: Now we need to get her to Louisiana !! she's ours
Posts: 3,421
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Theres a lot of 60s fiberglass boats out there still bringing good prices for well taken care of boats!! Some of those will still be there 20 more yrs from now !!!
__________________
Bob and Connie
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06-05-2012, 19:00
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,959
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chattcatdaddy
1965 Pearson Ariel going strong. 47yrs and counting, early glass boats were layed up thick.
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I have a 1965 Cal 36 in California. Not layed-up any thicker than necessary. Still solid. Original gelcoat is thinning and dull but looks reasonable. She's shiny when she's moving fast and wet.
What does not last are most of the other parts. The only original parts on her other than the hull are the 6 cockpit winches and the galley basin. From rudder to rig everything else has been replaced at least once - every block, wire, switch ... everything. Expensive.
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06-05-2012, 19:47
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Boat: 15 foot Canoe
Posts: 14,191
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
capcook,
When I got my very first gelcoat boat I went through the process of bringing out the shine. I used very fine rubbing compound and car wax. It looked beautiful. Now there are many new products on the market that will do the same thing but might be less time consuming.
Try some of the major catalogs like Hamilton Marine, West Marine, etc.
kind regards,
__________________
John
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06-05-2012, 19:59
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ohio
Boat: Now boatless :-(
Posts: 11,580
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt.
How long will a well maintained fiber-glass yacht last? On another hand, how long will other yachts built with other materials last?
And please focus here.
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How long is a piece of string?
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07-05-2012, 02:09
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#12
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,589
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lt.
How long will a well maintained fiber-glass yacht last? On another hand, how long will other yachts built with other materials last?
And please focus here.
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Can't help you with data on well maintained fiber-glass yacht but I can give two data points on a well maintained wooden (carvel) hull and a well maintained plywood hull (both around 30 ft). Both were in great condition after 40 years and both had more than 90% of original hull material in them.
Of equal importance to "well maintained" is "well built initially"
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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07-05-2012, 02:16
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Malvernshire, on the sunny side of the hill.
Boat: 50' steel canal and river cruiser
Posts: 1,905
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Ive got a very VERY old brush. Only replaced the head 4 times and 1 new handle, apart from that its still original
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07-05-2012, 02:18
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Malvernshire, on the sunny side of the hill.
Boat: 50' steel canal and river cruiser
Posts: 1,905
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ex-Calif
How long is a piece of string?
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Ah thats easy.
Twice the distance as it is from the middle to one end
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07-05-2012, 04:44
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Durban South Africa
Boat: L 34
Posts: 284
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Re: How Long Will It Last?
HA, well said anjou, I've got a brush like that, two cars and a lawnmower.who's quote is that re: socialism?
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