Hey mate,
I have never sailed one but have done a fair bit of work on my them. I know a lot of Trawlers that are steel and work on steel tugs pushing and towing steel ships and barges.
First steel is Tough a well built steel boat will last forever. You can give them a good flogging and they will come out fine. Some tug captains are rough and like to come flying up the side of ships at 10 knots.
As for yachts. In jimmy Cornell's book, 200,000 miles he talks about owning his second boat. Aventura 2 (yes it is Romanian). He reckons it performed reasonably well over 15 knots of breese, anything under that she doesn't move. From memory she weighed 17 ton for a 42 footer but I can't confirm this as the last time I read the book was 10 months ago.
PROs: 1. Strong
2. Easy to repair
3. Not hard to maintain
4. Less prone than Aluminium to electrolysis
5. Can be easily shaped into Weird and Wonderfully designs naval architects seem to come up with these days, easily
CONs: 1. If not prepared properly before painting you Will have problems with Rust.
2. Heavy
3. If some wanka does a below average welding job expect water ingress causing rust OR breakages ( cough cough golden globe race wind vanes)
These are all I can think of at the moment.
Would I buy a steel boat? Personally i would prefer an Aluminium boat for a sailboat because of the lightness. I have heard that corrosion isn't an issue if you keep up on maintenance. For a motor boat, certainly a steely is exactly what I want.
Dont know if you watch the Deadliest Catch Shows (yes very dramatised) but their boats are 30-80 year old Steel boats. The Wizard was built for WW2 and is still being thrown round in 40ft seas 75 year after.
Seems I am rambling on a bit. Now you know what I think anyway.
Cheers,
Mick
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Select to expand quoteIlenart said..
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Steel needs to be well prepared before being painted.
I agree with Shanty's comments and having owned a very well built 42ft steely, I feel I can comment on the matter.
If you are a fussy bugger like me - don't get one, either that or paint the hull brown!
Constant touching up of those small rust spots that if not jumped on, not only look crap and create stains, but get worse.
I would say most of the problems that occur with steel boats is the appearance - not so much structural (if you start with a good one) - although appearance may not be an issue for some.
Displacement: My yacht weighed 14 tonnes. She absolutely loved anything 15 knots +, but struggled in the light stuff.
Fairing: Fully faired hull, the fairing can fall off if it is damaged and water gets in behind it. Of course, not fairing a hull negates this, but generally looks inferior - "starved dog look".
Bilges: Steelys usually rust from the inside out - keep the bilges dry!!
On the flipside;
Strength: I've been in some heavy seas and the stiffness in a steel hull is a real confidence booster. Slamming down the other side of breaking waves and the hull feeling as stiff as a well built 14ft tinny.
Encapsulated keels: I just like the idea for strength as opposed to bolt ons.
Lightning: Much has been documented on it's better to be on a steely or fibreglass yacht. I'm going with steel hull on this one.
Anyhow, these views are just my own, plenty of people will probably tell you otherwise!
Select to expand quoteBundeenabuoy said..
I hope you can follow your dream
I have a mate who is a welder he gets paid a fortune to be flown all over Australia to do specialized welding,
when he told me he wouldn't own a steel boat I gave up the fantasy of learning how to weld and picking up that cheap steel yacht.
Not only that it is getting very hard to find a yard that will let you work on it. And you can kiss $10,000 away when ever you need to sandblast it and that's only the hull. Not decks or internal .
when I pull up for the day I want to enjoy myself not grab The chipping hammer and primmer.
Select to expand quoteBundeenabuoy said..
Pros and cons?
Can't think of any pros apart from they are cheap or free!
Steel yachts are the predominate build material in my homeport. Only one of them goes to sea. This boat is a round bilge steel and underwent a full on 9 year rebuild before taking up residence here. Tiny amount of rust stains occasionally but the owner is constantly on top of maintenance. One Adams 40 went up on the hard at Myola for a 3 months stay and has been there 3 years so far! Another round bilge steel 40 footer built by her shipwright owner is always immaculate and is going some place sometime in the future, possibly during my lifetime. The only liveaboard we have just sold his boat recently. He was given the boat, round bilge steel built in Germany. Very good looking hull about 34 foot with an expensive feathering prop, Aries windvane and other quality stuff. It has serious rust problems and constantly gets attention from the local boating officer! Mobi, the steel ex navy Sydney Hobart racer built by navy apprentices out of expensive steel is still here. It was refurbished and repainted with $180,000 of public funded money a few years ago. Has severe rust problems and is going to the "farm" at Myola shortly. Still a nice looking boat but some careless modifications by previous owners adding teak toe rails and unsuitable window surrounds have done some serious damage. There are 4 others here I don't go past but can see from my residence and they only move with the change of tide.
One steel boat was condemned on the slips and had to be craned off and trucked to the farm. Sand blasting is banned at our slipway.
I would not buy steel myself and I decided that long ago when chipping paint in the navy. I prefer to watch the deck maintenance workers on cruise ships touching up spots with phosphoric acid each morning.
I used to work at mb92. A shipyard in Barcelona. My job was rust removal and prevention. The work was plentiful. I was working every moment I could. Not the nicest work, in bilges, lockers etc. But these were big boats so access to these areas was fairly easy.
For this reason I would own a steel yacht it if it was something I really wanted like that Belgian boat in the link above.
A friend bought a 52 ft in nz called timelord in 08. It. Cost him 350k and he couldn't afford to keep it for all the maintenance.
Certainly not a decision to be taken lightly when considering purchasing a steel boat.
Some people put oil in the bilges to prevent Rust.
Aluminium would be the go.
Like I said earlier I probably wouldn't buy a steel yacht. But a steel trawler or motor boat is the go. Just my opinion.
Some of the guys who own these trawlers have a hollow head. They still manage I keep up with the rust. queenslandfishingbrokerage.com.au/licenced-trawlers-for-sale/
The "Pt Kythira" was the las tug I was I on, she's looking pretty good for rust. Little bit around the bulwarks and along the waterline but that's it.
pacifictug.com/portfolio-item/pt-kythira/
Cheers,
Mick
Select to expand quoteBundeenabuoy said..
I hope you can follow your dream
Me too. Seems to be a lot of people interested but no ones going for it. I'm still in limbo unable to do much til affairs are finalised in oz. Once they are I'll be seriously considering that boat. The bowsprit makes the boat a bit too long and I've never smoked a gaff cutter. Some research required by me if I'm to go down that route
Select to expand quoteIlenart said..
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Did you like the UFO? Still got it?
if you are seriously considering a steel boat this is a good read:
www.yachtmollymawk.com/books/how-not-to-build-a-boat/
As I said in another thread about this, you're gonna get the knockers!!
Yes I am biased, I own a steely - I have previously owned plastic as well.
Yes, there is a bit more maintenance owning a steel boat but nowhere near as much as some would like you to believe!!
Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one!!
I've found, over the years, on this forum that there are many different types of people here with many different views.
Some think they are god's gift to sailing and need to share their opinion, some think they know everything about everything & leave their opinion, some have to post on just about every topic, whether they really know anything or not on the subject yet some really know what they are talking about on certain subjects & share their views etc. etc.
I have just about worked out who fits into which category & really only take any notice of the posters whose opinions I value & can rely on - & there are still a few, thank goodness!!
Select to expand quoteLazzz said..
As I said in another thread about this, you're gonna get the knockers!!
Yes I am biased, I own a steely - I have previously owned plastic as well.
Yes, there is a bit more maintenance owning a steel boat but nowhere near as much as some would like you to believe!!
Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one!!
I've found, over the years, on this forum that there are many different types of people here with many different views.
Some think they are god's gift to sailing and need to share their opinion, some think they know everything about everything & leave their opinion, some have to post on just about every topic, whether they really know anything or not on the subject yet some really know what they are talking about on certain subjects & share their views etc. etc.
I have just about worked out who fits into which category & really only take any notice of the posters whose opinions I value & can rely on - & there are still a few, thank goodness!!
Which one do I fit into
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..Ilenart said..
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Did you like the UFO? Still got it?
Have just bought a larger yacht (yep fibreglass :) so about to sell the UFO 34. The UFO 34 was a great yacht as a cruiser / racer and very impressive performance upwind.
This wiki article has a good summary of the UFO 34's
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_34
Ilenart
Select to expand quoteIlenart said..Sectorsteve said..Ilenart said..
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Did you like the UFO? Still got it?
Have just bought a larger yacht (yep fibreglass :) so about to sell the UFO 34. The UFO 34 was a great yacht as a cruiser / racer and very impressive performance upwind.
This wiki article has a good summary of the UFO 34's
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_34
Ilenart
is that your boat for sale atm thats in rushcutters?
Select to expand quoteShanty said..Lazzz said..
As I said in another thread about this, you're gonna get the knockers!!
Yes I am biased, I own a steely - I have previously owned plastic as well.
Yes, there is a bit more maintenance owning a steel boat but nowhere near as much as some would like you to believe!!
Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one!!
I've found, over the years, on this forum that there are many different types of people here with many different views.
Some think they are god's gift to sailing and need to share their opinion, some think they know everything about everything & leave their opinion, some have to post on just about every topic, whether they really know anything or not on the subject yet some really know what they are talking about on certain subjects & share their views etc. etc.
I have just about worked out who fits into which category & really only take any notice of the posters whose opinions I value & can rely on - & there are still a few, thank goodness!!
Which one do I fit into
I would like some feedback on my contributions as well please . [ no smiley face inserted , deadly serious ........]
Select to expand quoteLazzz said..
As I said in another thread about this, you're gonna get the knockers!!
Yes I am biased, I own a steely - I have previously owned plastic as well.
Yes, there is a bit more maintenance owning a steel boat but nowhere near as much as some would like you to believe!!
Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one!!
I've found, over the years, on this forum that there are many different types of people here with many different views.
Some think they are god's gift to sailing and need to share their opinion, some think they know everything about everything & leave their opinion, some have to post on just about every topic, whether they really know anything or not on the subject yet some really know what they are talking about on certain subjects & share their views etc. etc.
I have just about worked out who fits into which category & really only take any notice of the posters whose opinions I value & can rely on - & there are still a few, thank goodness!!
There's no way anyone could talk me out of a steel boat if I liked it.
And that gaff in nz? I really really like it. If it's there in a few weeks I'll be buying it. If I think I can single hand that rig OK... It's a beast.
I worked on steel boats. The maintenance was ongoing but not that bad. I was actually the only person doing the work on a 72metre 100million dollar boat for years. Through out the entire bilge. Lockers. Air vents. I went through every sqm of that thing with dremels, grinders, needle guns. MIL spec, Rust converter. Then painting. Not all the time. Just during yard periods. Of course I'd be having a really good look at it a steely to see if I think I can manage it.
I'd be living aboard and would make sure to have all the tools I need to continuously fight Rust.
Here my Grp boat needs some love but I cant get to it much now. Coromandel. White sland. Bay of islands. Great barrier island and thousands more islands await in nz. Really looking forward to it.
I wouldn't own one, but it is perfectly good boat building material. Horses for courses.
Cheers
Bristol
Ive built 3 steelies over the past 20 odd years and if they are built with consideration to ease of painting in the first place you dont really have rust problems. The first paint job is critical and the vital step of brushing every single corner and weld zone in the entire boat is often missed because pro painters dont have the time.
It also has to be built so that no where is hard to paint and many old designs weren't.
Steel boats dont need to be slow and heavy, dont need to be built like a hungry horse, and can be relatively low maintenance.
Select to expand quotestray said..
Ive built 3 steelies over the past 20 odd years and if they are built with consideration to ease of painting in the first place you dont really have rust problems. The first paint job is critical and the vital step of brushing every single corner and weld zone in the entire boat is often missed because pro painters dont have the time.
It also has to be built so that no where is hard to paint and many old designs weren't.
Steel boats dont need to be slow and heavy, dont need to be built like a hungry horse, and can be relatively low maintenance.
Thanks for the PM too!
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..Lazzz said..
As I said in another thread about this, you're gonna get the knockers!!
Yes I am biased, I own a steely - I have previously owned plastic as well.
Yes, there is a bit more maintenance owning a steel boat but nowhere near as much as some would like you to believe!!
Opinions are like arseholes - everybody has one!!
I've found, over the years, on this forum that there are many different types of people here with many different views.
Some think they are god's gift to sailing and need to share their opinion, some think they know everything about everything & leave their opinion, some have to post on just about every topic, whether they really know anything or not on the subject yet some really know what they are talking about on certain subjects & share their views etc. etc.
I have just about worked out who fits into which category & really only take any notice of the posters whose opinions I value & can rely on - & there are still a few, thank goodness!!
There's no way anyone could talk me out of a steel boat if I liked it.
And that gaff in nz? I really really like it. If it's there in a few weeks I'll be buying it. If I think I can single hand that rig OK... It's a beast.
I worked on steel boats. The maintenance was ongoing but not that bad. I was actually the only person doing the work on a 72metre 100million dollar boat for years. Through out the entire bilge. Lockers. Air vents. I went through every sqm of that thing with dremels, grinders, needle guns. MIL spec, Rust converter. Then painting. Not all the time. Just during yard periods. Of course I'd be having a really good look at it a steely to see if I think I can manage it.
I'd be living aboard and would make sure to have all the tools I need to continuously fight Rust.
Here my Grp boat needs some love but I cant get to it much now. Coromandel. White sland. Bay of islands. Great barrier island and thousands more islands await in nz. Really looking forward to it.
Your's is a great story
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..Ilenart said..Sectorsteve said..Ilenart said..
simple answer, no. Had a friend who kept his steel Vandetadt 34 in very good condition. He painted the deck and within a week rust started showing through. Was a never ending battle. On my Fibreglass UFO 34 the maintenance has been way less effort. My friend sold the Vandestadt 34 and bought a fibreglass yacht.
Ilenart
Did you like the UFO? Still got it?
Have just bought a larger yacht (yep fibreglass :) so about to sell the UFO 34. The UFO 34 was a great yacht as a cruiser / racer and very impressive performance upwind.
This wiki article has a good summary of the UFO 34's
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_34
Ilenart
is that your boat for sale atm thats in rushcutters?
nope
