Surveyor for Ferrocement yacht

[lilianroyle]

I need a survey for a ferrocement yacht. The boats in a yard near the Crouch. I need it for insurance purposes not for fully comprehensive but for the wreck removal and salvage clause.
If you are one or if you know someone who is reasonably priced please let me know.
Thanks
Pete

 

[Guest]

i don't know of a surveyor but you might try Mike Peyton the cartoonist of Practical Boat Owner who has sailed / sails a ferrocement yacht 'Touchstone' for years.

 

[graham]

I have allways fancied a ferro boat but been put off by all the negative comments you hear,probably mostly based on rumour and ignorance.

I spent some time in New Zealand where they were treated with a bit more respect.

As they are exempt from dry rot ,osmosis and gribble worms what problems do occur with a well built ferro hull?

Is it possible to tell a good one from a bad one once its plastered?

Could anyone with firsthand experience fill in the gaps in my knowledge.

 

[chippie]

About 15 or 20 years ago it seemed like every second spare paddock here in NZ had a ferro boat under construction in it. I dont think many are being built nowadays. I helped a mate plaster one he had made (his second). It was important that the plastering was done in one hit and not allowed to dry out quickly so had to be kept damp.(Fairly standard concrete practice ).

I remember the local ferro guru Ed Sayer built a racing yacht he called floating footpath (The name was original then)which showed that a well built ferro boat could foot it with the best. His boats are still sought after if people are seeking to buy ferro,and are often advertised "certified hull". I dont know What certification involved, but it meant they were built properly.
The risk with ferro was/is that many were built by keen amatuers who may not have been thorough in their building practices but this is true of all boats to a greater or lesser extent.
Signs of problems are rust stains which show water ingress to the reinforcing. Small ones probably dont matter too mugh as it is probably only tie wire that has got a bit too close to the surface. Any serious rust will probably be accompanied by expansion of the reinforcing which will cause blowing of the plaster. Look for signs of crazing around stress areas and any resultant rust weeps. In this respect a boat needing a repaint is easier to inspect as things havent been hidden.
A fair hull is a sign of a builder who took time to get it right.
Epoxy and concrete go well together and an epoxy fairing and paintjob can give a long lasting good finish.
Ferro boats sell for quite a lot less than other forms of construction so can be a way of affording a larger boat for your money [with the attendant problems that brings].
Chances are the boats you will be looking at will have a few years on them so the bad ones will be showing it by now, but as you say: no rot!
Good luck with your search.
If you can contact the person suggested in a previous post a discussion with him would be beneficial.

Cheers

 

[lilianroyle]

Dear Graham
Ive had two wooden boats and if money were no object I would prefer wood, However my experience of my current boat is completely positive. the hull was professionally made and is as fair as you will find on any production line fibreglass boat. However many homebuild ferro boats are badly designed, plastered and fitted out. It seems to me that the only real disadvantage ( if you have a good one of course) is that they are hard to sell. Theres a professionally built 31 foot smack for sail at the moment for about 18 grand ( see classic boat) which is really a ridiculous price, And I paid much less for mine (also a smack) which was fitted out by the first owner. Lots of boat for the money very strong but lots of duff boats on the market, and as you say its difficult to know once the cements on. However mine's 25 years old and survived a violent grounding during the big 1987 storm and I know people who saw it being made.
Best Wishes
Pete

 

[DanTribe]

Hi
Alan Hill in Burnham on Crouch is a very good, sensible surveyor and has experience of ferro.I can recommend him.Good professionally built ferro boats can be excellent,some amateur ones are very dodgey.
Dan

 

[VeniVidi]

I would try these folks. I think they would be very thorough, maybe more than what you are looking for.

http://jwmarine.bizland.com/survey_of_ferro.htm

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