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(no email)
Date: Wed Jul 02 2003 - 23:41:43 EDT
Search the live-aboard archive at http://www.irbs.com/lists/live-aboard/.
There's been much discussion there on this subject as well.
The pros and cons listed below seem to cover it pretty well. Also have a look
at chapter 2 of Eric Hiscock's "Cruising Under Sail" -- his discussion of
steel is brief and to the point and relates some of his first-hand
experiences.
Phil Sherwood
s/v Elysium (Gulf 32)
San Juan Island WA USA
[...]
>
> Pros of Fiberglass
>
> Cheaper to buy, survey, outfit
> lower maintenance on your voyage
> easy to work in fiberglass if something breaks
> easier to sell when the voyage is over
> well known cruising boats have predictable performance
>
> Cons of fiberglass
>
> blisters
> hull deck joint
> deck delamination (take care of these 3 in survey)
> greater catastrophic damage potential upon hard grounding, hitting reefs,
> rocks, or floating containers
>
> Pros of steel
>
> stronger hull, pound for pound
> you can make the rigging and deck hardware bulletproof
> easier to repair serious damage (holing)
> easier to engineer watertight bulkheads, etc.
>
> Cons of steel
>
> more expensive to buy, survey, and outfit
> you better learn to weld (anyone can work with fiberglass)
> paint, paint, paint, 7 coats per year, inside and out!
> special hull coatings and bottom paint required (can not use copper bottom
> paint)
> zinc anode protection is critical
> rust inside the hull in places you can't see or paint
> many of the available boats have been backyard built - construction and sea
> worthiness maybe good, maybe not
> steel boats usually do not have as deep a keel, and are usually heavier
> displacement, not known for upwind abilities or speed
> can't really build a small steel boat. Usually steel sailboats are in the
> 40 - 45 foot range. Usually, cruising sailboats are in the 34 - 38 foot
> range (in my experience)
>
> If you really want to go with steel, read Bernard Moitessier's "A Sea
> Vagabond's World", and find a boat like Joshua. However, Joshua was lost at
> anchor in a late season hurricane at Cabo (although salvaged).
>
> Someone should add pros and cons of aluminum construction.
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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