What kind of lifespan could I hope for out of a Rawson hull?

[Lasivian]

I was reading that fiberglass hulls have a lifespan around 50 years.

Thanks

[Sailmonkey]

Hope not, our boat is rapidly approaching that age. It’s not the hull that has given any problems. It’s all the stuff bolted to it.

[capn ken]

Stout vessel .if in doubt have a proper survey done ��

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

I was reading that fiberglass hulls have a lifespan around 50 years.

Thanks

Written by another "marine expert" no doubt.

[Don C L]

It'll probably outlive your grandchildren.

[Steve Bean]

So, what would be the mechanism of the alleged end of the lifespan?

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Lasivian

I was reading that fiberglass hulls have a lifespan around 50 years.

Thanks

This is just funny.
Be careful about your choice of reading material.

One of the unfortunate things about fiberglass boats is disposing of them when they are no longer wanted.

[CaptnBry]

From experience: I have a 1961 Rawson (2020 now) . Have owned it for over 20 years. It will outlive the next generation easily. It was well designed by Bill Gardner. This particular Rawson was built for Ron's own use and has the only Skeg hung rudder I know of( neutral weather helm) . It bounces off rocks at 5knts and 64kts of wind leaves the cockpit with only spray ( yes, my mistakes of several cruises solo to deep Mexico and back to CA. ) everytime I think of going "bigger", I just upgrade her and count my blessings. I believe and live, ' if a boat was well designed, well built, and well maintained., its age is timeless'. Cheers and Fair Winds!

[nightowle]

if the vessel is cared for even to a moderate degree, the hull will effectively last close to forever. Well beyond the 50 years that was thought of 50 years ago.

[Captn_Black]

I would have an ultrasound done at 50 years, especially if she is regularly sailed hard to windward, but fibreglass is at its strongest after 10 years, and with proper maintenance there is really no reason for her to not last practically indefinitely. However, given the spate of recent accidents, I would definitely have a keel survey if she doesn't have a full keel.
I don't think I am the only one that would rather buy a 40-50 year old ship with a full keel than a modern racing boat knock-off.

[CaptnBry]

Rawson 30 sailboats have a full keel. No bolt-on fatigue points.

[SVHarmonie]

I think it is reasonable to say that a fiberglass BOAT has an expected lifespan of 50 years, but the hull goes on forever. Like all predications, this is only approximately true and there are many exceptions, on both sides.

A common cause of the death of a sailboat (or any boat for that matter) is when its purchase price falls to the point that it can be bought "as a bargain" by someone without the resources or knowledge to maintain it. It then goes into rapid decline, and is soon worthless. Take a dock walk in any marina anywhere and you'll see the boats on this slippery slide toward death.

Certainly, by any measure the average wood hull has a shorter expected lifespan then fiberglass, yet there are 100+ year old wood boats out there that are loved and cared for.

[BlackHeron]

Dock walk, heck -the boats in real danger are the ones that have fallen into the hands of "owners" who no longer feel it is necessary to spend even the minimal costs to keep a boat in a slip or a maintained mooring ball. Instead they just go out somewhere and drop the anchor, trusting to providence that the boat will stay swimming with little or no supervision for weeks, months, even years on end through storms and whatever weather it faces.

We are full-time anchor-out cruisers and have noticed that while this lifestyle is fading away, and we have fewer other cruisers as neighbors anchored nearby, the anchorages are nevertheless often filled to capacity anyhow with "wet-storage" boats deteriorating and in various stages of severe decay. Many popular places have at least one or more sunk boat in the field, and a few that have drug up on shore nearby.

As fast as local municipalities or states raise and drag the carcasses out more refugees pour out if the local marinas as they change hands to new owners not willing to pay slip fees on their cheap or even free new boats.

Fiberglass boats last forever. They go on floating well after anyone responsible wants to own them. They even go on floating for a very long time after they are forgotten out there on anchor and usually only are lost when they drag or the fiber rode rots and breaks, or chaffes away so that the derilict boat drifts away to its final resting place.

In areas with decent tides that is often their fate, left high and dry until the tide comes in over the side if they don't float up off their keel just right. Travel anywhere along popular waterways and nearby anchor spots and you'll see these lost and forgotten derilicts everywhere. Some are long gone, bit many are still loyally swimming at anchor and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[a64pilot]

Life expectancy is based on level of care.
A wooden boats lifespan is what often 20 years? Yet the USS Constitution is still afloat, but assume is very well cared for.
Old fiberglass boats die from neglect, with proper care, who knows how long they would last?
I have a 1946 airplane, a Cessna, you would think at 74 years old it would be rare, but there are a surprising number of them still flying and it’s due to the level of care as they aren’t particularly well built, they were inexpensive trainers.

[Navicula]

think of it this way
fiberglass boat builders have helped put themselfs out of business... they build great boat hulls that could last forever.....