The pro's and cons of steel boat building

[rotrax]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Your words, not mine. I have only stated that it is much greater liability in plastic, than in steel. Putting words in someones mouth, so you will have something to argue against, is an admission that you have nothing else to criticize, in what was actually said ( kind like marriage.)

This cannot go unchallenged.

You did not state there was much greater liability in plastic.

In post #110-look it up Brent, we dont want any more misapprehension do we-you state clearly that " in 40 years of ocean cruising none of my boats have ever suffered serious structural failure at sea, which is more than can be said for most stock plastic boats."

So Brent-who's words are they? Brent Swains, the "Got one, had one, been there and done it" of steel boatbuilding. It is a pity your mind cannot encompass a proper debate. I am sure you have some good things to offer, but most of your comment on this thread shows a severe lack of knowlege and comprehension, as well as not remembering what you have previously posted.

Own goal for you I think-again.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

This cannot go unchallenged.

You did not state there was much greater liability in plastic.

In post #110-look it up Brent, we dont want any more misapprehension do we-you state clearly that " in 40 years none of my boats have suffered serious structural failure at sea. which is more than can be said for most plastic boats."

So Brent-who's words are they?

Own goal for you I think-again.

Indeed, see below (my emphasis added)

In over 40 years of ocean cruising ,none of my boats has ever had any serious structural problems at sea, which is far more than you can say for most stock plastic boats.

 

[rotrax]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

With so many aspiring to retire early and live the cruising dream, is there anyone crazier than someone who manages to semi retire and do it

Really Brent? I dont know any personally. You only know a handfull. You are one of them. I dont think you are crazy, but the rest of your post again shows how you belittle those who do not have the skills, time or inclination to embrace your lifestyle. They are entitled to enjoy their lifestyles in their own way, just as you are.

I dont hear them belittling you for your choice, so how about returning the compliment?

So, in reliable figures, how many are aspiring to retire early and live the dream? IMHO over 40 years old does not count.

You do come out with some rubbish sometimes.

Factual evidence please, not subjective nonsense from an evangelical preacher.

 

[Mister E]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Could I make a polite request to BS, sod off.
This is supposed to be about a brand of boat that would be very nice to own.
Not about some sort of bumming around lifestyle.

 

[Daydream believer]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

In over 40 years of ocean cruising ,none of my boats has ever had any serious structural problems at sea,

Only your word for that. Any other users about who can substantiate that statement please?

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

This cannot go unchallenged.

You did not state there was much greater liability in plastic.

In post #110-look it up Brent, we dont want any more misapprehension do we-you state clearly that " in 40 years of ocean cruising none of my boats have ever suffered serious structural failure at sea, which is more than can be said for most stock plastic boats."

So Brent-who's words are they? Brent Swains, the "Got one, had one, been there and done it" of steel boatbuilding. It is a pity your mind cannot encompass a proper debate. I am sure you have some good things to offer, but most of your comment on this thread shows a severe lack of knowlege and comprehension, as well as not remembering what you have previously posted.

Own goal for you I think-again.

I stand corrected ."Many "stock plastic boats would have been a better choice of words ,or "many stock plastic designs." Who has never made a typo?
How many stock plastic designs have done 4 circumnavigations, including groundings in severe conditions ( big surf) with no serious structural failures of any kind ?
Only two haul outs in 34 years show that maintenance has not been a big problem for me. Boat is in excellent condition.
John Morris on vacation for a bit. We will get the pics when he gets back.

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

The BC coast is littered with abandoned plastic boats. 30 years ago they would have been quickly scooped and brought back to life .In Frisco they are being ground up for concrete reinforcement.I heard the back waters of the US east coast are filling up with abandoned plastic boats which no one wants. Is that also the case on your side of the pond? Has the Greek financial meltdown led to a similar situation there?
A friend bought an extremely well equiped Alberg 35 for $25 K, when the owner aspiring to go cruising , spent many years working to buy all the toys he was told he "had to have ", ran into health problems, and had to sell her cheaply .
That being the situation, does it make any sense to spend a lifetime worth of cruising funds for any boat, when so many boats just as good are for sale so cheaply, or sometimes even free? It is all to common to spend so much on a boat that there is not enough $ left for using her. Also, having so much tied up in the boat adds greatly to the stress of using her ,undermining her true purpose ,pleasure.

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Only your word for that. Any other users about who can confirm that statement please?

Search Silas Crosby
Tagish,
Read Don Shore's book
'Around the World on Viski"
And 'The NW Passage on Ten Dollars a Day" ,by George Hone ,
and "Arctic Oddysey "By Len Sherman."
Or Winston Bushnell's articles on then NW passage trip, in Pacific Yachting magazine.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

John Morris asked for some of my drawings, to post here ,as did people on the wind vane discussion, so I sent them . He hasn't posted them, as he promised.

I’m not sure you will. As a moderator I’m very aware about the rules on advertising and it’s not appropriate for me to comment on private messages and warnings to individuals.

If I put your drawings up on the forum I would be promoting your business for you and I’m not sure I want to do that. I’m discussing options with my fellow mods and the admin people.

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

These things have style but i am yet to see a steel boat that looks anything far removed from-well to be kind- a sort of a boat!!. If they have been built with any "style" they will not have been built in the back yard by a bunch of cowboys for a few hundred bucks.

.

In the 80s, a company here began building steel boats to look shiny and glossy,like plastic boats. Up to a half million dollars each. Judging them by their shine, people coughed up the money, assuming shiny and glossy, automatically meant "Quality", only to find out later that the welds had been done outside only, and ground to the thickness of a beer can. ( Very"professional"looking tho)! I prefer the properly welded and not necessarily smooth welds of a conscientious back yard builder, when on a stormy night at sea, any time. Most commercially built steel sailboats around here are similarly abysmally under welded and over ground( and underpainted as well!)
Here is an example of one of those "Crude backyard boats" you speak of

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

People asked me for the drawings of the wind vane, and I have been criticized for not being able to post them. You said ,if I sent them to you ,in a private email, you would post them.

 

[Wansworth]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

I think we need a few more Brent Swains!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

John Morris asked for some of my drawings, to post here ,as did people on the wind vane discussion, so I sent them . He hasn't posted them, as he promised.

People asked me for the drawings of the wind vane, and I have been criticized for not being able to post them. You said ,if I sent them to you ,in a private email, you would post them.

Regarding the wind vane, I’ll see what I can do.

 

[rotrax]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Brent-re your claim about abandoned boats.


Brent, as a per capita percentage-you know, numbers abandoned/discarded against numbers built, I would be willing to bet more steel boats than GRP are affected.

Nothing factual, just general observation from my area of the UK and New Zealand.

 

[newtothis]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Search Silas Crosby...etc

Search Shrimpy, Swirly World and Ming Ming
Small, cheap plywood and plastic boats going places only steel boats can go.

 

[rotrax]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Search Shrimpy, Swirly World and Ming Ming
Small, cheap plywood and plastic boats going places only steel boats can go.

I believe an American, Robert Manry crossed the Atlantic. Falmouth USA to Falmouth UK, in a 14 foot plywood dinghy called " Tinkerbelle "

 

[Wansworth]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

I believe an American, Robert Manry crossed the Atlantic. Falmouth USA to Falmouth UK, in a 14 foot plywood dinghy called " Tinkerbelle "

He converted a lap strake solid wood dinghy by adding a small cabin

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Not wishing to bring up the other thread on tin boats ( in the vain hope it will fade..) and absolutely nothing to do with IP boats... I had a look at origami stuff and came up with this: http://www.kastenmarine.com/frames_first.htm
scroll down a bit until it comes up with frameless construction and origami.

If you search origamiboats yahoo groups, you will see decks, cabins, keels skegs, rudders,cockpits , wheelhouses, etc being built using origami methods . I have been doing them that way since 1980.

On Kasten's website, he claims that it cant be used for the above items, only for hulls . I pointed this out to him many years ago , so he knows it is a lie, yet it remains on his website . When a friend invited him to the metal boat festival , his instant response was to ask if were coming. My find said "Maybe." His response was "No way, if Brent might be there!" He knows he would instantly lose any open debate with me .
Relying on Kasten's advice on this matter , is like relying on a 9th century Monk's advice on flat world theory.
Don't believe everything you read on the internet!

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

Well, the Dyes took a Wayfarer to Iceland and yet Wayfarers are probably not ideally suited to that sort of trip. You take just about anything just about anywhere if you time it carefully and don't mind some discomfort.

Heyedahl took the Kon Tiki to Polynesia ,but that doesn't make it the best choice for such a trip. Slocum made the same point about the Spray, after circumnavigating in her. Some Spray fans never read that part of his book.

 

[Brent Swain]

Re: Island Packet-are they worth it?

I still fail to understand what discussion on merits of steel boats has to do with the topic of this thread. Seriously...

Some one else brought the comparison up early in the thread, followed by disinformation on steel boats ,which I tried to correct, based on decades of hands on experience.