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CeesH · 07-11-2012, 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulls

A very good point and i think up to about 35 feet the weight of steel is a down side, but over 35 ish feet a steel boat can be as light as a FG boat. People do tend to over build in steel but if they had followed the designers plans they would have had a far faster boat.

Also wanted to say hello to you both as we met you in Morton bay about 3 years ago and enjoyed your company.

Andy

Andy when builded with knowledge, steel not only last but also doesn't have to be to heavy.

Look at this Peter Beeldsnijder's design build in 1978. A Gouwzee Snoopy 30' displacement 4.500 kg

For Sale in the Netherlands Gouwzee Snoopy

CeesH

Cheechako · 07-11-2012, 08:52

foam core and fiberglass will float, somewhat, as a sheet of material. Steel will sink. Give me fiberglass with foam core, insulation, any day.
a panel of fiberglass with core may float on it's own, but when used as a boat it sinks very well. is there an advantage to floating "somewhat"? (Isnt that kinda like drowning in 6 ft of water is better than drowning in 600 feet of water?)

A very good point and i think up to about 35 feet the weight of steel is a down side, but over 35 ish feet a steel boat can be as light as a FG boat. People do tend to over build in steel but if they had followed the designers plans they would have had a far faster boat.
One of the reasons steel doesnt work well for smaller boats is that you can only go so thin on the plating or you get a very oil canned hull from welding. So a 35 ft boat might have the plating thickness of a 50 ft boat.

**hpeer** · 07-11-2012, 15:17

10 gage steel is the generally accepted downward limit.

Our 33 is constructed of 10 gage.

We also looked at a 52 foot Colvin schooner of 10 gage steel. Ted Brewer said he thought that was kinda light for a boat that size.

Our 44 Pape is 1/4 inch for the first two plates, then 3/16. But god awful heavy.

Comfortable and tough also.

Mr B · 07-11-2012, 17:29

3/16 th is the minimum. below that it will just warp all over the place, unless you stiffen it out, but it will still flex and buckle on the panels, Then you will get drag on the buckling panels,

Take some doing to actually punch a hole in 3/16th plate steel.

Wand · 08-11-2012, 03:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr B

3/16 th is the minimum. below that it will just warp all over the place, unless you stiffen it out, but it will still flex and buckle on the panels, Then you will get drag on the buckling panels,

Take some doing to actually punch a hole in 3/16th plate steel.

No, 1/8 (about 3mm) is the minimum (though 3.5mm the more accepted number) - below that it's just too hard to get a good weld and also warping becomes an issue. Can't easily punch a hole in 1/8 anyway. 3/16 is godawful heavy for a boat in the 10 metre range.

Dulls · 08-11-2012, 03:30

thanks for that CeesH Andy

Normanby · 08-11-2012, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeesH

Andy when builded with knowledge, steel not only last but also doesn't have to be to heavy.

Look at this Peter Beeldsnijder's design build in 1978. A Gouwzee Snoopy 30' displacement 4.500 kg

For Sale in the Netherlands Gouwzee Snoopy

CeesH

Them Dutchies are indeed skilled at building metal boats.

My steelie is only 28' (was 26, previous owner extended the transom, to enclose the outboard, which is neat) and quite quick in the right hands (not mine, I'm too lazy to sail fast, too busy looking at interesting clouds...).

I find the maintenance easy. I'm a bit ham-fisted and taking care of steel can be done by a trained ape, without the training. All scraping, brushing and painting.

Wood and plastic take more patience and finesse than I care to learn.

If it can't be fixed with a hammer, try a bigger hammer...

ozskipper · 08-11-2012, 03:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulls

I was going to say i have owned boats in timber, steel, aluminum, copper, Kevlar, ferro, silver, gold etc to add weight to my argument but i haven't so i cant.

We should start a thread "Steer me away from a GRP boat" then all us steel owners can haunt that one and the GRP owners can keep going with this one.

Thats little on the sarcastic side dont you think? However, youre welcome to start any thread of your choice.

But remember , the title of this thread, is "steer me away from a steel boat". Hence, people chiming in and giving their own experiences.

**s/v Beth** · 08-11-2012, 04:10

I want a hull made out of this stuff:
Copper.org: Copper Nickel : Asperida 70-30 boat hull
And it can be welded to a steel frame. Saw it the other day in welding class...
If I can just talk my wife out of the funds....

**hpeer** · 08-11-2012, 04:35

Yeah. I've seen that before. Ah, sweet love, what a perfect metal.

I have even seen a few stainless boats on Yachtworld.

My Wife wanted aluminum, but we couldn't afford that even.

Although we did look at one alloy boat where I accidentally pushed my knife through the hull into a water tank when poking at some white crusty stuff. Took a pass on that one. Did tell the broker though.

We ended up with a steel boat, and only later learned it had been flame coated with aluminum. Why no one would say that as a selling point is beyond me.

Dulls · 08-11-2012, 04:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozskipper

Thats little on the sarcastic side dont you think? However, youre welcome to start any thread of your choice.

But remember , the title of this thread, is "steer me away from a steel boat". Hence, people chiming in and giving their own experiences.

You are right. When you think about the thread title then there should be nothing good about steel boats on here. He wants only to hear bad things about the rust buckets.

"Plastic is the boat you sail while the other guys are fixing their rust and varnish."

I quote you with no sarcasm intended.

DutchTreat · 09-11-2012, 08:43

I am just here to show solidarity with my steel boated brothers and sisters.

Mine is a steel 27' or so double-ender made in Holland.

They say steel boats rust from the inside out? I can inspect just about every square inch of the inside of my hull and it looks brand new (built in '82). It is very true the Dutch know how to build a steel boat.

And that's what it really boils down to - a well built boat will last.

CeesH · 09-11-2012, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchTreat

I am just here to show solidarity with my steel boated brothers and sisters.

Mine is a steel 27' or so double-ender made in Holland.

They say steel boats rust from the inside out? I can inspect just about every square inch of the inside of my hull and it looks brand new (built in '82). It is very true the Dutch know how to build a steel boat.

And that's what it really boils down to - a well built boat will last.

Hi DutchTreat, Please never call your beautifull Vollenhovense Bol a double-ender, its a Platbodem (Flat-bottom)

CeesH