Is there a future for large wooden hulls?

[shipman]

I have been in a search for large classic sailing boat of 120' or more. My first preference would a wooden hull boat. I found none!
Considering all advances in technology, why is a large wooden hull such a rarity?
Is it the high maintenance cost? . . . or, the classification societies' requirements? . . .

 

[tcm]

Spirit Yachts worth a look. Not quite the 120 foot tho not far off.

er cancel that - there's a 130 footer coming soon.

http://www.spirityachts.com/sy-spirit-D130.htm

 

[shipman]

Thank you for the hint!

. . . I ment 2-, 3- or 4- masted ships, realy.

 

[Sixpence]

I think you might be pushing your luck trying to find one > From what I've seen , there are few that size , and fewer with multi masts . Are you thinking of a square rigger type vessel

 

[michael_w]

Have you tried here Lots of scandanavian woodies.

 

[shipman]

[ QUOTE ]
. . . Are you thinking of a square rigger type vessel

[/ QUOTE ]

. . . that or a schooner rigger does not matter. The closest to what I'm looking for turned out to be so far the Turkish gulets and traditional Greek boats . . .

 

[shipman]

Looks like there is a restriction on the max size of the wooden hulls, - probably comming from the classification socities, there is also some new regulation comming into force in 2008 or 2010 . . .

Does anyone have more info on this?

 

[Mirelle]

How large is large?

There are all sorts of problems with large wooden hulls. Beyond a quite moderate size, the weight of the structure eats into the carrying capacity and the hull is prone to severe hogging due to the weight of structure in the ends. The number of joints means this is inevitable.

So, composite construction is much better for larger vessels, and steel becomes the only answer once we get big enough.

There has been a bit of a move back to wood in the Scottish fishing fleet as the maintenance costs are lower than for steel in the 50-80ft range.

The real reason why large (100ft +) wooden hulls are now rare is the cost of construction.

 

[grumpydog]

Re: How large is large?

I think a Turkish gulet might be a good idea. I've just come off a week sailing on a 90-footer. It was a two-masted bermudan schooner, and pretty quick - we saw 10 knots occasionally. They have loads of interior space, and are relatively cheap to make out there. I visited a yard near Bodrum (Turkey), which seemed very competitive. They have a 150ft gulet planned for next year, and are mid build with two 130 footers. Their website is: www.bodyat.com.tr

 

[lamasboat]

I am wooden boat builer in Antalya - Turkey. I am collaborating with a bigger boat yard now. And, we will build boats cold molding. My suggestion is cedar cold molding over cedar strip planking. So, you will have lighter hull. Every lamination to be with epoxy. bottom to be laminated 4 layers and topsides 2 layers of fiber -epoxy. after filling and fairing hull shell with epoxy system. bilges also need to be totally encapsulated with epoxy as well. So you will have a strong, light and almost maintenance free, stinkless hull. It consumes too much epoxy but less wood. besides this hull doesn't require more and thick frames as traditional planked wooden hulls. It is surely bit more expensive than traditional gulet hulls. But as englishmen says ' I am not rich enough to buy cheap things'. ( I hope I write the right form of the proverb. Please correct me if i did it wrong) excuse my english.