Wood vs GRP??!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter EJo
  • Start date Start date
I think a distinction has to be made between boat ownership and wanting to go sailing.
I can only speak for myself but I am not too bothered what material a boat is provided it does what I want it to do. We have to respect everyone's reason for owning a boat.

Wood requires the romantic view of surrounding yourself with organic matter. It is hard to find a rational argument for owning and maintaining a wooden boat. Wood imposes limits on all aspects of construction. Many things are possible but the time and costs are outside most people's remit.

I think it is fantastic that there are all sorts of boats and materials about. To say that one is better than another may be true but only in certain respects.

We have never had it so good.
 
Great responses - thanks! Ah, the whiff of GRP shavings - I suppose it doesn't have quite the same ring to it
 
I sail a 35 year old GRP boat (Laurent-Giles Pentland Ketch) that is still in excellent condition. Could do with a bit of a polish I suppose, but I prefer to spend my time sailing her!
previous boat was built in 1969 and was also in fine fettle when sold. Haven't seen her as she went across to North East coast a few years back, but I'll bet she's still going strong, others like her locally are.

I agree wood looks good, but GRP can make a pretty boat too (OK, so Pentland isn't exactly "pretty") and definitely last pretty well so far. And some wooden boats don't last simply because they were poorly designed or built. Only the best survive in any material.
 
very interesting post...

i do agree about wood lasting better if maintained in a certain manner

for e.g. this weekend there 2 italian Motor Yacht here in Malta berthed next to each other
one is a Canados 58 age approx 17 years (GRP)
the other is an Alalunga 18 mtr age appro 20 years (wood)
the Alalunga looked much shiner and sleeker tough looked more much cared for, as for the Canados she was in need of a new paint job, which would cost much money
 
If you're after a pilot cutter, but don't want the worry of maintaining a timber boat, and aren't overly impressed with the long term merits and weight distrubtion of grp, then maybe you could consider a professionally built Ferro Cement boat.

The weight distribution of a ferro hull is similar to that of an equivalent traditionally built wooden hull.
 
Hi there
Is Cascover still available ? I am rebuilding a Robb Ketch and I like to replace what I had to remove . Thanks for any input
 
But some plastic boats are also crossover. The Halcyon 27 plug was taken from the wooden Diamond class boat, and includes the hull damage !.
So it looks wood, but maintains plastic.

Brian
 
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the hull topsides have only been painted twice in my 13 year

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That's good news. Having just bought an old wooden MG, I thought I was going to have to paint her every year. But there are cracks along the seams - I think I had better find some photos and start a new thread... I have so much to learn!!
 
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