Steel boat as a long-term liveaboard (in a warm(er) climate).

[Tranona]

Not my experience so far round the N/S Atlantic. Certainly in some areas but overall, not what I've seen. Hardly the sort of thing you can get accurate numbers for though.

That is the whole point. You see what you want to see which means you tend to ignore what you don't want to see. You can, of course constrain where you want to see to places that are atypical.

However, given that there are virtually no professional builders of steel yachts and those that did build them in the past never did so in any volume, you are left with home builders who by their nature can never produce large numbers of boats compared with the thousands of GRP yachts turned out every year.

So you may well find certain locations with a high proportion of steel yachts, the numbers in relation to the whole of the rest of the world will still be tiny. How many foreign yachts visit Brazil every year?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’ve sailed in Brazil and don’t recall seeing many steel boats. I saw lots of GRP ones.

I’ve only been to truly remote places on larger vessels (built of steel!) and in Antarctica and the very S of America (Punta Arenas and then the Chilean islands going N on the Pacific side etc) I don’t remember seeing more than one or two Yachts. They may have been steel, but I don’t remember thinking, “Only steel boats down here!” Perhaps all the GRP ones had hit things and sunk without trace?

 

[GHA]

That is the whole point. You see what you want to see which means you tend to ignore what you don't want to see. You can, of course constrain where you want to see to places that are atypical.

Indeed but looking is better than guessing what you think might be out there. Not that the world cruising routes are awash with steel or anything, it's the 'vast majority ' of plastic that your getting pulled up on, 'most' certainly.

How many foreign yachts visit Brazil every year?

You're kidding! As we're talking world cruising boats - lots! Since suez/red sea is pretty much off limits it probably the most sensible way to go, round the south Atlantic high then up, to the Caribbean on that lovely current. A lot said it was the best passage all the way round.

Check inside cover of ocean passages and land falls or world arc.

Anyway, Nuff. There's loads of happy long term steel cruisers out there who really don't care if you think otherwise.

 

[rotrax]

Indeed

Anyway, Nuff. There's loads of happy long term steel cruisers out there who really don't care if you think otherwise.

And there are many, many thousands of GRP boat owners sailing their fragile eggshells around the world without any problems too!

And I am sure, like me, they are supremely indifferent to the alleged superiority of steel boats.

My boat is in her winter storage. The yard is well known on the South Coast of England for top quality repairs to boats of all types.

They have just restored the Langstone Harbourmasters Mooring Barge.

It is steel, 30 years old and was rotten! A pencil could have been pushed through the hull where two plates joined. You dont get the same sort of galvanic action with GRP......................................

 

[GHA]

And there are many, many thousands of GRP boat owners sailing their fragile eggshells around the world without any problems too!

And I am sure, like me, they are supremely indifferent to the alleged superiority of steel boats.

My boat is in her winter storage. The yard is well known on the South Coast of England for top quality repairs to boats of all types.

They have just restored the Langstone Harbourmasters Mooring Barge.

It is steel, 30 years old and was rotten! A pencil could have been pushed through the hull where two plates joined. You dont get the same sort of galvanic action with GRP......................................

It was Brent that was arguing have a steel boat cos it's better, not me, the difference is Tarona thinks there are virtually none out there cruising which is just plain wrong, not the pro's and con's. There are people in all sorts of boats floating around the world's oceans, their choice. Good on em for getting out there and doing it.


Chill eaceful:

 

[rotrax]

OK!

 

[Brent Swain]

And there are many, many thousands of GRP boat owners sailing their fragile eggshells around the world without any problems too!

And I am sure, like me, they are supremely indifferent to the alleged superiority of steel boats.

My boat is in her winter storage. The yard is well known on the South Coast of England for top quality repairs to boats of all types.

They have just restored the Langstone Harbourmasters Mooring Barge.

It is steel, 30 years old and was rotten! A pencil could have been pushed through the hull where two plates joined. You dont get the same sort of galvanic action with GRP......................................

And the list of missing at sea yachts keeps growing. They all believed the chances of hitting something and sinking were remote, until too late.

My steel 31 footer is 33 years old, and the hull is as good as the day I launched her.
Government boats are prioritized for short term budgets , which often means minimum paint. That aint the material's fault.

Read Jimmy Cornel's book "Modern Ocean Cruising"in which he interviews circumnavigators, 8 out of 10 who said they would prefer metal for their next boat, several who had already started metal boats.

 

[Robin]

And the list of missing at sea yachts keeps growing. They all believed the chances of hitting something and sinking were remote, until too late.

My steel 31 footer is 33 years old, and the hull is as good as the day I launched her.
Government boats are prioritized for short term budgets , which often means minimum paint. That aint the material's fault.

Read Jimmy Cornel's book "Modern Ocean Cruising"in which he interviews circumnavigators, 8 out of 10 who said they would prefer metal for their next boat, several who had already started metal boats.

Jimmy voted for aluminium though did he not?

 

[Brent Swain]

Jimmy voted for aluminium though did he not?

Yes; he has tons of money, compared to most cruisers I know, for whom aluminium is not an option.
He didn't vote plastic.

 

[rotrax]

Yes; he has tons of money, compared to most cruisers I know, for whom aluminium is not an option.
He didn't vote plastic.

Tell you what Brent, you stick to your boat which obviously ticks all your boxes, and I'll stick to mine.

I may sell my Steel Hartley 32 soon.

Be interesting to see how popular it is with prospective owners.

It will be cheap, I'll start at $16,000 NZ and see what interest I get.

She was as sound as a pound last time she was lifted and I have given the Donk a good overhaul and a new starter battery.

Fully kitted out, holding tank, electric heads, barby, the works.

Just right for a world girdling adventure. Sadly, I'm too old, or I would be off.

On my GRP boat, of course.

 

[geem]

Quick survey. Currently in Bonaire which is about 35nm north of Venezuela and 360nm west of Grenada. Lots of boats here heading west and most on serious cruising with a few boats we have spoken to heading for a full lap.
There are 46 moorings here and a couple vacant at the moment. There are only two steel boats. Both are off in to the Pacific. We have spoken to both owners as they were both in the same yard as us in Curacao over the summer hurricane season. They both needed welding whilst in the yard. One had extensive work done to a rotten toe rail and transom. The other was less extensive.
I dont think 2 steel boats out of say 40 grp ones is an unrealistic percentage of what we see about generally. The reality is there are many more grp boats doing the same trips as steel boats and one of the two steel boat owners here said he would never have another one.

 

[Heckler]

Quick survey. Currently in Bonaire which is about 35nm north of Venezuela and 360nm west of Grenada. Lots of boats here heading west and most on serious cruising with a few boats we have spoken to heading for a full lap.
There are 46 moorings here and a couple vacant at the moment. There are only two steel boats. Both are off in to the Pacific. We have spoken to both owners as they were both in the same yard as us in Curacao over the summer hurricane season. They both needed welding whilst in the yard. One had extensive work done to a rotten toe rail and transom. The other was less extensive.
I dont think 2 steel boats out of say 40 grp ones is an unrealistic percentage of what we see about generally. The reality is there are many more grp boats doing the same trips as steel boats and one of the two steel boat owners here said he would never have another one.

Bruces yard was an eye opener with all the rotted from the inside steel boats being welded up with Lidl and Aldi or Aki welders and grinders going full chat !
Stu

 

[GHA]

I dont think 2 steel boats out of say 40 grp ones is an unrealistic percentage of what we see about generally.

Probably not far off the mark for the lower latitudes, South America ISTR seeing quite a lot of Ali.

one of the two steel boat owners here said he would never have another one.

Quite possibly backs up what's been said above, really sort your boat out to begin with then not so bad, factory built almost certainly not a good choice with hardware bolted on & wood touching metal.

More work than most will want initially but cheap enough to do yourself. Or build your own and have a bullet proof for life.

Or get a plastic and head off tomorrow if you have the cash.

 

[GHA]

Bruces yard was an eye opener with all the rotted from the inside steel boats being welded up with Lidl and Aldi or Aki welders and grinders going full chat !
Stu

He's up the Guadiana now

Forgot to add - posted from Bruces, welding & grinding! Filling up holes which shouldn't have been there in the first place!!!

 

[Brent Swain]

Bruces yard was an eye opener with all the rotted from the inside steel boats being welded up with Lidl and Aldi or Aki welders and grinders going full chat !
Stu

Exactly . They say steel boats rust from the inside out ,yet claim there is no need to epoxy the inside, unable to make the cause and effect connection. That is not the fault of the material in the boat, only that between the ears of those who don't paint the inside properly. As Paul pointed out, the inside epoxy in his boat is in perfect shape after 25 years, as mine is after 33 years.

 

[Brent Swain]

I just had an interesting conversation with a plastic boat owner, who had become quite dismissive of steel boats for offshore cruising lately, making many of the arguments posted here.
He suddenly began saying he wouldn't consider offshore cruising in anything but a steel boat!
What happened was, he was cruising off Read Island, and stopped to do some fishing. Suddenly, a humpback whale breached almost clear of the water, and came down within six inches of his bowsprit.
Funny how such a sudden dose of reality can blow away theoretical misconceptions, instantly.
Another friend said he saw a video of a humpback landing on a plastic boat , smashing it to bits instantly.
Humback population here has grown drastically, lately.

 

[Brent Swain]

Probably not far off the mark for the lower latitudes, South America ISTR seeing quite a lot of Ali.



Quite possibly backs up what's been said above, really sort your boat out to begin with then not so bad, factory built almost certainly not a good choice with hardware bolted on & wood touching metal.

More work than most will want initially but cheap enough to do yourself. Or build your own and have a bullet proof for life.

Or get a plastic and head off tomorrow if you have the cash.

Most commercially built boats here have zero epoxy inside, and much bolted down hardware ,and wood outside. A home built boat, built by someone with steel boat experience, or prepared to listen to experience, is a far better choice than most commercially built ones.
There was a great article in November 2016 Sail Magazine titled" Dream Boat or Derelict" listing the pitfalls of buying an older plastic boat. There are many. No simply buying older plastic wont solve all your problems , and may give you more than you imagined .

 

[Brent Swain]

And there are many, many thousands of GRP boat owners sailing their fragile eggshells around the world without any problems too!
( Quote)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the list of "missing without a trace" boats on cruising forums continues to grow. They are not around to tell you of their problems. Only the lucky ones are.
I have met several who's boat sank quickly ,when they hit something in their plastic boats, their survival being just a matter of fluke luck.
I have hit some pretty solid things in the night. Had I not been in a steel hull, I would have died several times over. Not being dead is worth all the maintenance I have ever done on my steel boats over the years ( a couple of hours a year, average.)
Good seamanship is minimizing dependence on odds and fluke luck.

 

[Tranona]

.
There was a great article in November 2016 Sail Magazine titled" Dream Boat or Derelict" listing the pitfalls of buying an older plastic boat. There are many. No simply buying older plastic wont solve all your problems , and may give you more than you imagined .

Once again making sweeping statements in a specific context and then generalising is not a good idea. While it may well be the case that many GRP boats built on your side of the pond in the past were badly built with poor quality materials and methods, most built in Europe and particularly the UK had hulls that were very well built and have lasted well. The problems with older boats are more to do with the cost and practicality of making good wear and obsolescence of the equipment. However for some people refitting a sound older hull is the only way of getting a suitable boat for long distance cruising given that there are so few newer boats available of the style that many prefer.

 

[Brent Swain]

Tell you what Brent, you stick to your boat which obviously ticks all your boxes, and I'll stick to mine.

I may sell my Steel Hartley 32 soon.

Be interesting to see how popular it is with prospective owners.

It will be cheap, I'll start at $16,000 NZ and see what interest I get.

She was as sound as a pound last time she was lifted and I have given the Donk a good overhaul and a new starter battery.

Fully kitted out, holding tank, electric heads, barby, the works.

Just right for a world girdling adventure. Sadly, I'm too old, or I would be off.

On my GRP boat, of course.

Imagine your self treading water in mid ocean, at night, thinking "Damn, I should have stuck with the tinny!"
Hindsight is wonderful, but foresight is much better; and wiser!