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Get extra keen discounts and beat expensive shipping costs by buying books through this site! The free delivery service applies to most established destinations worldwide. Steel Sailboat – It Pays To Look Closely At The Design Details If You Are Thinking Of Buying One
Buying a steel sailboat? If so your approach should be hard-headed and impartial. The premise that the sea is hostile to most materials is valid – not least for mild steel which can easily rust. As with any other boat building material, if you’re thinking about buying a steel sailboat, your approach should be hard-headed and impartial. All rose tinted spectacles should be crushed under foot.You should start by asking yourself: Is steel the right material for the type of sailing you envisage? Let’s look at the pros and cons.
On the plus side we have:
- A tolerance to rough treatment. If, for instance, you find yourself berthed in a commercial dock, this would definitely be a tick for steel, since it has more resistance to impact than any other material.
- This tough characteristic is a particularly reassuring to ocean voyagers, venturing into poorly charted parts of the world where not every rock might have been discovered, let alone lit. And neither would you lose much sleep worrying about half submerged containers. The boat shown below was washed ashore in a gale, but later floated off at High Water. Lots of dents but it didn't leak a drop.
One of the other great advantages of metal boats is that a common material is used throughout; for example, chain plates are an integral part of the structure. Another plus for our blue water wanderer is that steel is readily available anywhere – usually along with the skills to weld it. Repairs are made much easier by not needing much in the way of temperature or moisture control. In these days of inverters and reliable arc welders, small repairs can even be done using a boat’s batteries as a power source.
Less attractive characteristics include:
- Steel boats tend to be sedate, especially the smaller ones. Any steel craft under 45 feet is likely to be heavy compared with those made from modern materials. So sizzling performance around the cans will not be your bag.
- Expect to do more maintenance. Protective coatings have greatly improved over the years, but steel remains inherently susceptible to corrosion. Steel sailboat owners can become – and with justification – almost neurotically attentive to even the slightest rust weep.
- Sometimes this can be down to poor design. Many designers have drawn plans for a class of boat that can be constructed from various materials, including wood, GRP, or steel. So a design feature – say a chain locker drain – might not be problematic in a GRP boat but could allow water to settle in one made of steel. You need to be aware of this when looking at boats for sale.
When buying a second hand steel sailboat bear in mind that many have been built by amateurs toiling away in their back gardens. So be very suspicious of build quality because a multitude of sins can be disguised by filler! Rust that doesn’t show up when a boat is ashore washed by gentle rain, will often explode once launched into the briny.
Here are some specific points to look out for
- Examine the paint coating thoroughly. The 1980’s brought a renaissance in steel boat construction, with epoxy paints bringing proper protection to steel. Modern steel boats often have areas of high wear hot zinc sprayed – toerails and stemhead fittings being examples. Boats built earlier than the 80s may not have been so lucky.
- Look for any signs of pitting below the waterline. If you’re fortunate enough to actually see the boat being lifted out, look for any spots of shiny steel – a strong indication of galvanic or electrolytic action.
- Inspect all sacrificial anodes. If their wastage has been excessive, again suspect electrolytic corrosion – perhaps an electrical leak to the steel shell. If in doubt have the boat tested to see if an electrical leak exists.
- Look at common trouble spots – the waterproof plugs on deck for the mast wiring being a notable example. If the boat’s wiring is in generally poor condition, suspect the worse.
Finally, before you commit yourself to actually buying a boat, have it professionally surveyed. A surveyor with a knowledge of steel will be the best money you ever spend, since a bad steel boat can be disastrous on many levels. Tell yourself, that if its condition looks bad, it’s probably even worse than you might suppose. Remember the old adage that love is blind.
However, if you do find a good steel boat, you can reassure yourself that it should serve you well for many years. But if you’re in any doubt, the sensible thing to do is play safe and walk away.
Buying and selling Steel Sailboats - Incredibly Tough But Need Regular Maintenance
