A 162' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

[Bajansailor]

A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

Just saw this link on the IBI Newsletter :
http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070223105237ibinews.html

It certainly appears to be very impressive - and congratulations are due to the Owners (for their vision and confidence in the project) and the Designers and Builders, who (from what is reported) appear to be doing a fine job.

I am just wondering though, if it might not have been more practical (and probably less expensive) to build the hull from steel, and save 400 tonnes of Malaysian hardwood in the process?
Although they could only do this really if they intend to paint the hull - I am guessing that they will probably oil it (?) instead, for maximum authenticity.
(Discounting the engines, generators and air conditioning for the comfort of the passengers!)

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

It is actually 500 tonnes of Malaysian hardwood plus waste which if not previously selected could be a sizable percentage.

Any one here able to advise on estimated wastage percentage?

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

I was being optimistic, and allowing 100 tonnes for outfit, which a steel boat would need anyway - but even so, most of the outfit could again be made from modern materials (like plywood) with suitable veneers applied.
It does seem a shame to put 500 tonnes (how many acres of trees would that be?) into constructing a vessel which would probably have been much happier in the long run to have been built of steel.
It is 162' LOA - think of the longitudinal bending moments over that length! She must have truly massive scantlings to cope with these anticipated loadings - at least I hope she has!

 

[Superflid]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

It's probably not as many trees as you'd think. Just done some quick and rough calculations. Mahogany at 30lbs/Cu Ft is about half a tonne per Cu metre!

A cylinder (I said quick and rough....) 2m in dia and 30m high has a volume of 94 Cu Metres. So 1 tree could easily weigh 45 tonnes.

A dozen trees?

Anyone with more accurate figure is welcome to "adjust" mine.

 

[cliffordpope]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

It must be a bit more complicated than that. Calculating sheer volume of wood needed won't allow for getting the right grain directions, nor for the massive grown knees etc I presume it needs.
In Nelson's days shipwrights earmarked suitable sections of trees decades in advance, and then watched them grow to size and shape. If you just went out into the forest with a chainsaw looking for suitable timber you would have to do an awful lot of wasteful hacking surely?
And is it all being replanted in a managed way, or just vandalised?

 

[Superflid]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

I take your point that more wood would be used, but I thought that the "acres of trees" being mentioned was probably a little over the top.

I also have absolutely no idea how big the trees to be used are, I hope to have played it on the conservative side with my figures.

Hard to see how a replica could be built without using wood...... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[petem]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

€10,000,000 (or should I say €1 crore) is pretty cheap for a 162ft vessel innit? From my experience of Indian outsourcers the costs will be much higher but the end result will still be junk (but not the sort of Junk they were hoping for).

Pete

 

[Captain Coochie]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

As far as i am aware Malaysia and China have no regulations on thier timber trade so it's probably not getting replanted .

 

[cliffordpope]

Re: A 162\' timber Chinese junk in Mumbai

Where is Mumbai anyway? Is it anything to do with the Mummywood film industry?