[PUP] Let's design the perfect passagemaker - Lets start ....

[Ken Williams]

Hannu Venermo raised the question of doing a steel hulled boat. 

The hull seems a good starting point for a discussion... 

To my knowledge there are only four options for the hull: wood, fiberglass,
aluminum and steel.

I know nothing about the pros and cons of a wood-hulled boat, so I can't
comment on them. My perception is that wood is great, but not practical, for
cost and maintenance reasons.

As to fiberglass:

Pros
----

- Inexpensive to manufacture in a production environment
- Produces a good looking boat
- Can be painted
- Easier to insulate than steel or aluminum

Cons
----

- Less collision proof than steel or aluminum
- Longevity uncertain
- Expensive in small production runs (one-offs)
- Tough to do major repairs (if significant damage)

As to Steel or Aluminum:

Pros
----

- Tougher than fiberglass
- Integral tanks are possible (double-hull with tanks in middle)
    + Usually provides for huge fuel capacity
- Easy to fix anywhere in the world (just weld on a patch)
- Possible to manufacture in limited quantities

Cons
----

- Electrolysis. Any two differing metals, that touch, are going to cause
problems. 
- Rust
- Sweating
- Can be a permanent maintenance nightmare. Need to inspect constantly
- Can't be painted 
- Resale of metal boats is not good. Too many buyers fear them (right or
wrongly - but certainly)
- More expensive than fiberglass in mass production(?)
- Top heavy, if all steel is used .. and, a tricky problem if a
steel/aluminum combination is used

Ken Williams
www.kensblog.com
Sans Souci, Nordhavn 68