Grp boats that die

[doca]

Where do grp boats go after they have reached the end of their usefull lives? I have never actually seen one lying around dead. Are they buried, burned or recycled ? Or are they like plastic bags which are an indestructable environmental eyesore? Maybe they are so good that they will nver die! Just wondering out loud.

 

[boatmike]

Polyester heaven. Unless they get osmosis that is. Then it's straight to hell!!!!

 

[rhinorhino]

I think they just work thier way higher and higher up the river and then wiggle into the mud in shame.

Seriously, how long will a GRP hull last?

 

[Stemar]

Jissel's nearly 35 years and still going.

I'll bet there are lots older

 

[jenku]

They will probably be sunk on purpose some time in the future to create artificial reefs when the coral ones have died due to global warming....

 

[Mirelle]

Much the same as wood, actually. Seen it done two ways, so far:

1. Gallon of paraffin and strike a match:

GRP burns well, and leaves almost nothing behind, but the thick black clouds of very nasty smelling smoke, containing, no doubt, all sorts of nasties, are a drawback.

2. Chainsaw:

More labourious, rather itchy and scratchy, and you have to cart the remains off to a landfill.

Seriously, neither is really practical.

I am not a chemist, and I hope someone who is can comment, but I fear that the type of thermosetting resins mixed with glass fibres that boats are made out of cannot be recycled at all easily. I would not rule out the possibility of GRP boats being banned in the not too distant future, because of this.

 

[Cornishman]

I asked a similar question here over two years ago, and nobody could come up with a sensible answer then, either. In the days when yachts were built instead of moulded they were burned on the beach when they reached the end of their useful life, and when the flames had die down the owner gathered up all the metal parts which were used in his next one!
Burning these days, especially plastics, is illegal and environmentally unfriendly.
Many modern plastics can be recycled and I wonder if this might be the case with the resins used in yachts?

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
I have never actually seen one lying around dead.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes you have. Walk around one of the cheaper boatyards or yacht club compounds mid summer, there are plenty of dead ones lying around. At a distance they might seem like yachts with a future but on closer inspection the total renovation costs required plus what the owner thinks it might be worth, will exceed the market value of living examples.

 

[aitchw]

AFAIK, there is nothing recyclable in GRP lay-up. The resins will oxidise in time, I suppose, but a very long time. The glass will be around indefinitely. I assume the lay-up could be burned in a high temp incinerator with the appropriate fume controls but would be v expensive.

Given the speed with which non antifouled hulls accumulate living organisms, sinking them in approved locations might be the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of them.

I don't know of anyone addressing this issue in an organised way.

 

[Salty]

[ QUOTE ]
Sinking them in approved locations might be the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of them.

I don't know of anyone addressing this issue in an organised way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hurricane Ivan did quite a good job!

 

[jenku]

There is some (very little) info here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How_it_Works/Question91638.html

"This is the only successful means of recycling GRP boats to date. They shred them up, add a bit more resin then press table tops & legs out of them."

 

[Jacket]

Shredded GRP also makes an acceptable aggregate for use in lower strength concrete mixes.

 

[dulcibella]

Can probably be turned into a rather chewy but zero-calorie breakfast cereal. Chance to make a killing here ...

 

[Moonfish]

Surely the Eurocrats will bring in legislation to have the builders certify that they can re-cycle their products a la Motor industry fairly soon.

Then we should be able to mix and match and have a chance to build from re-cyled parts.

Could end up with some very interesting home builds!!