any advice on refitting a steel boat?

[valentina]

I have just bought an old 67ft patrol boat with clapped out Wola engines that are working but need to be replaced.
I'd like to add an aluminium structure on upper deck to increase the size of the existing saloon (such as it is).
Any advice on how to and suppliers (engines and aluminium manufacturers of such things) would be gratefully received.

 

[Talbot]

If you are in the Portsmouth area, talk to Pepe's Boatyard at Hayling Island. They are an aluminium boat builder.

 

[valentina]

Thanks, I will look them up on the net and give them a call.
V.

 

[Shantyman]

www.findafishingboat.co.uk is a good site for engines.

Also www.boatsandoutboardsforsale have excellent sections on inboards, spares, equipment etc.

I have used them both but have no connection with either.

Golden rule if you are not au fait with engines get a professional opinion before buying and remember the old adage "You gets what you pays for"

Best of luck.

Shantyman.

 

[philmarks]

Aluminium superstructure will need to be electrically isolated from steel. This can be done by bolting the Alu framework down onto nylon gaskets. The bolts have to run through nylon sheaths. There is AFIK a special continuously welded joint system which includes isolation, but it is proprietary and expensive so I'm told.

This system is common on ships (or so i'm told...) Sure there will be experts here who will give more detailed advice.

 

[valentina]

Thank you all for the suggestions and advice, all of which I will follow up.
I propose to use experts when absolutely essential - i.e. engines, alumium cabin, electrics.
Will try and use reclaimed timber for panneling - has anyone any experience with this?
Can anyone recommend a particular type of engine and fitters?
Any tips on having the boat painted without spending a fortune?
Lastly, any recommendation re. yards where she can be laid up for work in London or the vicinity of London?
V.

 

[ianabc]

Repainting without spending a fortune.......
Well......We found in rebuilding a 37 foot steel sailboat, that when working on the aluminium plate that we used for many parts from hatches to covers, to the entire heads unit with hinged top with weleded on bullet type hinges weleded on.

Designed so that one can sit and shower while protecting the ceramic bowl below......

Sandblast the plate, then take it to a powder coating shop found in yellow pages under coatings perhaps.....we found that the cost of the excellent finish is 1/5, of that from etching painting with primer, etc etc. that we were told was the way to paint aluminum.

BEWARE aluminium oxide forms in moments after sandblasting the plate clean, so the paint needs to be immediatly applied ! (There are confirmed reports of aluminium boats having the entire paint layer fall off if the plate is overpainted on an oxidized finish.)

The shop that we take our parts to has an oven 22 feet long and 16 feet wide, not large enough for a mast! but would take perhaps 1/2 of your superstructure. Perhaps theree are larger outfits in the U.K. (I have been told that the electrostatic painting units are used for painting bridges and steel work)



Have been most pleased with results and used a sandtex white epoxy powder coating finish for boat parts and black sandtex for electrical panel parts.

 

[valentina]

Many thanks for that. I've saved it on file and will use the advice.
Good luck with your own boat.
V.