What to expect when buying an old steel yacht?

[topsi81]

Hi all!

I found some steel yachts on prices which are around my budget ($10 000). They are around 20 years old. Will you just tell me what to expect after buying them. Will it be more expensive to repair problems than if I buy a GRP yacht. I read some materials and all say that the steel yachts are very strong - BUT is it so for a 20 years old yacht.
The reason I am looking for a steel yacht is because I am afraid if I buy a GRP yacht that an osmosis or other problems will occur (I will buy a 20 years old vessel). All the article say that it is less expensive to pepair a steel yacht. Is this right in the long run? Are there things that I do not know......

Thank you in advane for the help?

 

[AlexHall]

Hi I just bought a 42 year old steel boat for £8000 and there was work to do but htink it worthwhile in the run if you can do the work yourself. I'm also the skipper of a 30metre steel motor yacht built by Feadship in 69, so have some views about keeping them afloat and as rust free as possible.

They corrode from the inside out, that something to bear in mind, always.

If there is any form of insulation which is damp, humid or has been at some time in its life expect corrosion of sorts, especially in the days when hi tech paints weren t around.

Corrosion will be found any where that is not easily accessible.

The big advantages are that repairs can be relatively cheap.

Corrosion is not as bad as it looks, even if there is a hole beneath the shale sometimes.

If you do eventually do resort to blasting the hull do try and find someone who can hydro blast. It is cleaner in a surreal way after experiencing grit. We are talking of about 2700 BAR!!! not a regular pressure washer at 2000psi....

Do consult professional paint suppliers before you do anything, they might even have a chemist who may come round and inspect the prep work for the steel and how the subsequent painting is going on.

Some epoxy primers are designed to be applied on humid steel.

Most of the work is lowskilled and boring but dealing with hi tech and expensive materials.

A steel boat if looked after can outlive most other materials if kept dry and ventilated.But that applies to any boat some might say.....

 

[JeremyF]

Hi Pavel,

I would not claim to be an expert, but I would have thought that they are not great as a first boat purchase, if only because they are not that easy to sell, and everyone says that your first boat will not be your last!

Stick to a 1970's GRP sloop of around 28'. There are lots about. If you try and see 20 in the next 3 months, you'll soon see what your budget buys, and more importantly, you'll discover one that's a real bargain! You'll know enough about the market to spot the bargain. Just now, I dont think you know enough about the market, so do your research!

<font color=blue>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=blue>

 

[dickh]

LOTS OF RUST!

Seriously, as suggested do look at grp yachts of 20 yrs old or older. They were built in the days when no-one knew much about grp and to give strength they just made it thicker - no bad thing. Any boat over 20yrs old will almost certainly have a bit of osmosis, but it is not the end of the world - it will not disintegrate on you and sink on your first long trip. Remember to get a survey done and if the boat has osmosis you can negotiate a big reduction or get the vendor to get it done - they often won't and you get a cheaper boat! Just look at the number of 30+ year old boats there around, old Westerlies, macwester etc.
Good Luck

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[castaway]

I would suggest that steel is a great material if you already have skills that allow you to work on it yourself, if not, go for GRP.

As suggested have a survey but dont expect to find a boat that does not have any osmosis.

With all old GRP boats try to give them a 4 month holiday every year, that is 4 months ashore to allow her to dry out a bit.. dont know if this would fit with your plans.

Nick

 

[mtb]

Re:dont let em put you off

Steel is by far the best material ( in my opinion that is )
WHY
well its very easy to repair and as long as you are determined enough to do it easy to maintain.
Once repaired and painted correctly ( paints & coatings, PDS Peterborough are very helpful ) you will have much less maintenance to do ,apart from antifouling that is .
As its already been said they will rot from the inside out so Hence the determination clean and paint !! and allow air flow. Do remember to keep the anodes in date .
Re the skills go to night school learn to arc / mig weld so you don't have to pay for some one else to do it .
Cheers
Mick

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug

 

[stephen_warby]

Of course I think steel boats are great because I own one but also, I thought I might mention one advantage of steel boats that is sometimes neglected. That is, all fittings can be welded on, from hinges to staunchions etc etc. this means a lot less sealing and ultimately a bone dry interior.

Good luck with whatever you do

Cheers
Stephen