Golvoir ferro hulls

[djs]

I'm interested in any information about a builder of Ferro hulls called Golvoir. A vendor states that the hull of a vessel is 'one of several built by Golvoir'. The broker informs me that the company no longer exist and maybe this is why I cannot find any info or reference to them on the Net.
The skill, knowledge and experience of a builder is paramount when considering ferro boats and I'm rather cautious about proceeding any further without some information on Golvoir.
Is there any info that forumites have, however vague, that may help me direct my search.
Many thanks in advance

 

[Stemar]

Can't help re Golvoir, but a friend just bought a ferro boat.

Before doing so, he did a lot of research and the salient point was that if a ferro hull is going to have problems due to poor construction, they'll show up in the first 10 years. If the boat's over 10 years old and doesn't have any rust weeps, she's almost certainly fine. If there's the slightest sign of spalling, don't walk away - run!

 

[Sans Bateau]

Could some explain to me why ANYONE would want a boat made of cement?

It just goes against all my principles. Thats not to say that they are no good, but I just cannot get my head around the reasoning. All the ferro boats I have ever seen have looked like they are well past it. Saw one in Malta a few years ago in a yard, had whole great lumps of the stuff falling off, poor owner was trying to patch it up!

 

[boatmike]

A few years ago (well maybe 50 or so) the general opinion was.... Who would want a boat made of plastic? A well made ferro-concrete hull (of which sadly there are few) will outlast any plastic or steel boat. The Romans invented concrete, and some of the structures they built using it still stand today. Would you build the Hoover Dam out of fibreglass?
The troubleis when a boat is well made in FC and painted to a high standard everyone thinks it's FRP......... Doesn't rot, wont get osmosis. rust etc......
Unfortunately due to the prejudice of people like you there are very few of them about.......

 

[daveyjones]

Hear hear! With all due respect to etap-owner, there are far too many people criticising ferro who know nothing about it. It wouldn't occur to me to moan about grp, because I am ignorant on the subject. If you are happy with your plastic/wood/steel/aluminium boat, tell us why, don't waste your time giving second-hand opinions. All the ferro owners I have heard from are very happy with their boats, and are usually off in far-away exotic locations, having sailed there in their concrete boats without problems. From my own experience, the mention of ferro on these forums generates a stream of negativity. That wouldn't be so bad, were it based on knowledge or experience. Based on ignorance, it's just a waste of keyboard time.

 

[daveyjones]

ps: ugly , badly-made ferro boats stand out a mile, but a well-made ferro boat would not be easily recognisable. Etap-owner has probably rafted up to many in the past, thinking they were plastic. Let's have reason over prejudice please.

 

[ashanta]

There was a post recently on this. A formurite was explaining his opportunity of buying a ferro boat cheap. I'm not going to go into the details but like this post, I don't think the guy's question is being answered. He just wants to know about a specific guy who designs ferro boats not if we think there any good!
My response last time was that, in my limited knowledge, some of the vessels are excellent and I remebered seeing a 40' Endurance in Plymouth that I would have given my right arm for.
I'm sure that there not racers but I feel that they are ideal long distance, live aboard boats.

Regards.

peter

 

[djs]

hear hear. I too suspect that there are more ferro cement boats out there than people suspect. trouble is, as it's a cheap method of construction many have been home builds (I'm led to believe) and so there will be some that are, shall we say, less robust than others. Ferro boats values depend entirely on the integrity of the hull. Getting insurance may be a problem if the boat is a home build or from a builder who doesn't have a reputation for ferro experience. Hence my initial question.
However i'm not too worried about prejudice because as long as the majority think like that we'll be able to get well found, globe circling 40+ footers for under £40k. Selling them's a different matter.
Guess no ones heard of Golvoir?

 

[Sans Bateau]

No there is no prejudice at all, I just do not know anything about them. It is true the concept goes against my own principal, I would rather have a foam filled unsinkable boat.

It is true that I may well have rafted up against one on several occasions. But, don't you think that if they were that good there would be more about? There are plenty of steel, wood and GRP boats around to satisfy all tastes.

In general if a boat has a sail and spars I have no prejudice. A choice to suit every taste.

 

[daveyjones]

sigh... the reason there are not more about is that the technique does not lend itself to mass production, it being very labour intensive. As for your "foam filled unsinkable boat", if you hit a reef in it, there would be nothing left after 24 hours. There are many examples of ferro boats surviving such a grounding with minimal damage.

At least you admit you know nothing about ferro, so why do you feel compelled to criticise it? Ashanta is right in saying we are wandering away from the question, but if the original question had been about any other material, it is unlikely that anyone would have bothered nay-saying it. There is something about ferro which brings out the bar-room pundit in people, the same ones who thought iron ships would never float.

Incidentally, I have never heard of Golvoir, but if djs contacts an insurance broker who deals in ferro boats, they should be able to supply him with a list od recognised ferro builders around the world, not all of whom have stayed in business. Golvoir might be on it. I had such a list a while back but stupidly threw it away

 

[Razorfish]

You could try visiting this website and contacting the author:

FerroBoats

Seems to be a mine of information.

I quite like the idea of an affordable 40ft boat to sail around the world myself!

Good Luck

 

[robind]

Try a google search on Belvoir ferro cement boats ? perhaps it was misunderstood?
There is some info there.
Rob

 

[boatmike]

True!
The trouble with plastic boats is that they are cheap as chips and mass produceable once you have a mould. I did once hear of a builder try to make a mould for pouring concrete. Good idea! he preformed the re-inforcement, set it in the mould and poured the concrete in using a vibrator (no jokes please) to consolidate. Don't know what happened to the idea but it could have been good. Probably could not overcome the prejudice.......

 

[daveyjones]

As Colin Brookes points out in his excellent books, we are now at a point with ferro where all the experiments have been made, and we know what works and what doesn't. There have been several variations on the process you describe, including spraying a mix of mortar and steel strands. These were all valid experiments, and we owe those people a lot; obviously there were many failures, but that is how the human race progresses! As I say, it is now known what works and what doesn't, so future ferro boats should be built to a much higher standard.

 

[graham]

I would love to own a ferro boat ,as it doesnt seem to suffer any of the problems associated with wood steel or grp.

Unfortunately even though largely based on ignorance the public perception of them is not good so resale will allways be difficult.

Years ago I think the problem was that many were lured into the dream by advertising,books etc into building hulls larger than they could afford to fit out .

 

[daveyjones]

Absolutely true about people building too-large hulls, there is one at Iron Wharf, Faversham, not yet plastered and a snip at £3000, but at 65 ft , not such a bargain when you consider the cost of completion and eventual mooring fees.

I hope to begin building a 40 ft Colin Archer in ferro this year; I feel this size is a good compromise between ease of handling and solo sailing, and space to take a crew, as well as future maintenance costs.

Your point about resale of ferro boats is true, but you must also consider that, as they are cheaper to buy in the first place, there is no loss on resale. They may even work out cheaper, if you invest the money saved on the purchase! For me the cost is not a consideration , as I simply want a safe seaworthy boat to take me wherever I have the courage to go.