|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
Subject: Fw: [world-cruising] Fiberglass or Steel
From: Russ Swan (ruswan@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed May 14 2003 - 04:28:42 EDT
>>The question I pose to any body that is willing to give advice is:
> > What is the more cost effective option. A Fiberglass boat or a steel
> > boat?
> >
> > Cheers
> > Frank
G'day Frank,
This is a bit belated now because I've had problems with my computer etc
etc.
This argument has been raging towards an unsuccessful conclusion for a long
time. The following is a little lengthy, so any readers in a hurry should
probably leave now if they want to check something else <smile>.
The following illustrates one point and is a true one. An aged English
gentleman came to Darwin and put his boat alongside the careening poles at
one of the local yacht clubs. He'd been around the world several times in
his backyard built steel boat... and it looked it too. It had bangs and
buckles all over the boat. He'd hit things and been hit by all sorts of
other things.
Alongside him was a chap with a solid looking fibreglass boat. Both these
men were in the bar one night with the latter chap expounding how strong his
fibreglass boat was, to the point of saying it was as strong as steel. At
this the Brit finally got fed up. He said, "Tell you what! I'll get out a
5lb sledgehammer and we'll take turns banging each other's hulls. I'll even
let you go first, and we'll see which boat stands up to it best". The offer
was declined.
Without getting into pedantics about the applicability of using a
sledgehammer to prove the strength of a hull, the basic point was made.
People make all sorts of exaggerated claims about hull material and relative
strengths. I even saw one claim recently that aluminium would simply buckle
where steel plate would rip along its weld lines. Pretty broad statement
that one!
But at the end of the day, how the boat was made IS important - a point
already made by others in this group.
I've posted this link to the group before but I reckon it would help you. If
you'd like to read more about buying your first boat, whether new or
second hand, here is a link that contains advice from old salts. Some of it
originated from this very list. It talks about what they would do
differently if they were ever back to the point where they were buying their
first boat.
http://www.adventureyarns.com.au/free/articlehndsgt.htm
I've done enough cruising to realise the nasty unexpected happens and it
won't necessarily be anything you could have prevented. For instance,
anchors can drag and you run up on a reef or you might strike a submerged
object, or you hit a whale ... or it hits you. While well-found steel boats
can sink too, I suspect its not so much because of hull failure such as a
holing. There are many stories and books from people who've owned
fibreglass (or timber) vessels that have hit floating objects or a whale,
and ended up in a liferaft. Many other fibreglass boats have been pounded
to death on a reef by the surf while steel boats have survived it.
I once passed by a submerged steel container off the topend of Australia one
day. It was just a couple of metres off my bow. One of its corners was
pointing towards the surface and only about a metre down. My boat is steel.
I believe I'm better off if I accidentally hit something like that under
sail, or in a gale, than I would if I was sailing a fibreglass boat.
There are pro's and con's for all types of hull construction including
concrete, but all cruising sailboats require maintenance to some degree.
Each have their own special advantages. Frankly, I feel more secure with a
steel boat, but it DOES require constant checking. The worst danger is rust
forming on the inside of the hull and working its way out. It's happened to
me and I once had to replace the topside hull on a stern quarter. As well,
blocked limber holes once caused small pinholes in the hull under the galley
and head. I now check every inch of my inside hull thoroughly at least
every three months when inactive, and monthly when cruising. It doesn't
take long and any work is usually minor if it's kept up to date. Good trade
for peace of mind.
Fibreglass might not need so much attention, but in my view you trade off
strength and peace of mind. No doubt there'll be an outcry about that
statement (smile) but that's the way I feel about it. I'm left unimpressed
by statements that fibreglass boats have passed "x" amount of times safely
around the globe. At the back of my mind is that old Brit, a steel
container and an uncharted, unmarked and invisibible reef I suddenly run up
on one day in Indonesia.
Perhaps the list might debate the relative strengths and weaknesses of hull
materials?
Cheers,
Russ Swan
Lowana IV
Darwin Australia
Adventure Yarns
Trues stories of adventure by unusual people
http://www.adventureyarns.com.au
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Rent DVDs from home.
Over 14,500 titles. Free Shipping
& No Late Fees. Try Netflix for FREE!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/BVVfoB/hP.FAA/uetFAA/A1TolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
world-cruising-unsubscribe@XXX.XXX
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|