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

[John Marshall]

Don't forget ferro-cement. There are 11,000 Hartley ferro-cement (FC)  
boats out there, plus innumerable other pleasure craft and commercial  
boats. Its easy to work for small production runs, it makes for a hull  
that lasts nearly forever and is easy to repair. It also puts weight  
down where you want it.

Most of the bad press that FC boats get is due to the amateur  
construction of so many of them. Backyard boats.

But professionally designed and built FC hulls will outlive their  
buyers, and require very little maintenance.

John Marshall

On Oct 30, 2008, at 8:15 AM, Ken Williams wrote:

> 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
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