Need advice for buying steel yacht

[rogerthebodger]

Re: Apologies for bumping this long-old thread

steel decks should be finished with paint and non-slip.

Thats how mine is done but some steel hulls have ply decks which is OK and no rust on deck just rot.

If I were to build another (which is quite unlikely) I would have a steel hull with aluminium deck and superstructure as the steel hull/ aluminium deck joint problem has been solved with explosion welded joining strips are now available.

 

[Tranona]

Re: Apologies for bumping this long-old thread

So you're saying that even "properly constructed and maintained" teak decks on steel boats are a recipe for disaster?

Potentially - yes. Fundamental problem is hiding a material that is prone to corrosion under something that is not waterproof. If water does get in - for whatever reason - it has nowhere to go and once rust takes hold it spreads. Of course not every boat suffers this way if the seams and every fastening through the teak are kept watertight, but this is a challenge on hard worked boats, particularly if used in more extreme climates.

Recently looked at a Dutch built boat less than 15 years old which had led an active cruising life and there were the tell tale rust streaks around all the hatch upstands and many of the deck fittings where the caulking seal had failed. Several high wear areas on the deck also showed signs of failure of the seams - it was a sunshine and showers day and you could see the damp patches when the deck dried. A custom built boat for long distance sailing and had been used in that way.

 

[pvb]

Re: Apologies for bumping this long-old thread

Potentially - yes. Fundamental problem is hiding a material that is prone to corrosion under something that is not waterproof. If water does get in - for whatever reason - it has nowhere to go and once rust takes hold it spreads. Of course not every boat suffers this way if the seams and every fastening through the teak are kept watertight, but this is a challenge on hard worked boats, particularly if used in more extreme climates.

Recently looked at a Dutch built boat less than 15 years old which had led an active cruising life and there were the tell tale rust streaks around all the hatch upstands and many of the deck fittings where the caulking seal had failed. Several high wear areas on the deck also showed signs of failure of the seams - it was a sunshine and showers day and you could see the damp patches when the deck dried. A custom built boat for long distance sailing and had been used in that way.

That seems to be backing off rather from your previous stance that the "scare stories" I referred to were "well founded". We can all find examples of things which weren't built quite as well as they might have been, but properly designed, properly built, properly maintained teak decks on steel yachts needn't be a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[KellysEye]

Re: Apologies for bumping this long-old thread

>Don't believe all the scare stories you read here - if properly constructed and maintained, there's no reason why teak on steel shouldn't be very durable. For proof, just take a look at the numerous Dutch-built steel boats with teak decks.

We had a steel ketch built in Holland by a professional yard Tak Jachtbouw whose main trade is ocean going tugs. We removed the teak decks because of rust stains. The interesting thing is the because of the weight when the teak was removed the boat was two inches higher in the water.

>>I recently saw for sale a boat which was built in the 60's with a steel hull and all teak decks - is the above comment to mean she should be avoided?

Yes, see above or remove them.