Steel boat vs fiberglass

Hello All,

Tomorrow I am going to see a steel boat as I plan to start cruising the Trent system and then do the Loop solo. I couldn't find much on this forum about steel boats.

Any thoughts out there? The good, the bad and the ugly.....all opinions and advice is very welcome!

Here is the ad

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-m...le/1423717345?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Steel boat vs fibreglass

$16,900?! What a steal...er, steel. Pretty sure all the FG boats will say steel is bad. All of the steel boat owners will say steel is awesome. Just a hunch.

As for me, I have a fiberglass boat, but think steel trawlers are awesome. I also believe the US market doesn’t appreciate them because we are programmed to only see value in mass-marketed production products. Never made sense to me.

What a neat boat!

Steel requires additional vigilance due to potential for rust. I have been warned (but have not personally researched rates yet) that insurance rates can be higher on steel vs glass or aluminum, all other things being equal. I always enjoyed operating steel boats at work, especially in rough patrol service where we were challenging shallow waters, high speed runs at night with potential for driftwood strikes, beaching, etc. . But I wasn't responsible for paying for maintenance of the hull. Sleeping aboard can a bit noisier than with a glass hull (hull slapping), but better than aluminum IMO.

The engine looks like it would be difficult to access and maintain. The hull appears to need some rust cleanup. Have a good marine steel guy offer his thoughts on corrosion protection effort and costs. You may be surprised.

Ask how the interior structure was prepped. Was it blasted to white/near white metal and then painted with epoxy? How much time elapsed between hull prep and painting? What type of insulation?

Go read the metal boat articles on Kasten's web site. He was the editor for the Metal Boat Society for decades.

Is Steel Too Heavy?

Go to this page and read up on paint and insulation:
Metal Boats For Blue Water - Kasten Marine Design

Later,
Dan

That price is in Canadian dollars also.

The owner has had it for 10 years. He leaves it in the water year round and lets ice form around it. He told me that he stays on it overnight in the winter sometimes.

I'm surprised insurance is higher as steel is so much stronger. No worries about hitting a rock and tearing a hole.

Luckily I usually sleep soundly.

This is only the 5th boat I've seen. It needs a few things such as a shower. The holding tank is 100 gallons. Fuel is 30 gallons. That will have to be switched in size.

Thank you Sunchaser and Dan. I will do all of what you advised.

Cute boat. It looks like he lowered some soft fabric sound shield around the engine. Also appears that he painted and maintained the exterior, because it's easier to reach. The problem with steel boats is that they generally rust from the inside to out. Obvious reasons. The interior you will likely gut and redo. This is what we call a project boat, so expect to spend a solid year working on it before you take off on your long term cruise. Like previously said, you need to spend the money on proper surveys (hull, systems, engine) including haul out. Fun project if you're young and enthusiastic (like I once was years ago). Good luck

Liz said:

.

I'm surprised insurance is higher as steel is so much stronger. No worries about hitting a rock and tearing a hole.

.

Click to expand...

I imagine it is due to insurance claims surrounding corrosion, and higher costs of repair over fiberglass when collision damage does occur.

There’s already a ton of maintenance on a boat. Why would you also want to “maintain the hull”? My friend had a steel boat. Really hard to keep up with all that rusting.....cost of course can make one attractive

If your going forward after you see the boat, as part of the survey get an ultrasound on the hull. It’s a non-destructive way to measure the hull thickness.

Corosion on a steel boat

There was a fellow in my yacht club who had a steel sail boat that was his liveaboard.

One day he woke up with water over his floor boards.

On inspection, durring haul out, it was found that a large section of his hull was failing. The only economical thing for him to do was to scrap the boat.

Galvanic corosion can change depending on where you moor your boat or who your boat neighbors are or the state of disrepair of the marina your in.

Fiberglass lasts forever.

Steel boat vs fibreglass

grahamdouglass said:

There was a fellow in my yacht club who had a steel sail boat that was his liveaboard.



One day he woke up with water over his floor boards.



On inspection, durring haul out, it was found that a large section of his hull was failing. The only economical thing for him to do was to scrap the boat.



Galvanic corosion can change depending on where you moor your boat or who your boat neighbors are or the state of disrepair of the marina your in.



Fiberglass lasts forever.

Click to expand...

This didn’t happen overnight. Your friend probably would have met the same fate with a FG boat as well. Obviously neglected to care for his boat.

I find it amusing that the same posters who tell you steel hull’s are bad on one thread are also complaining about core issues on their own boat on another thread.

As someone that worked in and owned yards, steel is much easier to repair than fiberglass. Steel is much stronger and will elongate rather than puncture or break. The tanks can be part of the hull and contribute to the overall strength. While steel is higher maintenance, with proper metal coating, and maintenance, steel can last indefinitely. But considering how many people take care of their boats, fiberglass is probably better for most yachts.

I've seen steel boats that pounded on breakwaters with rudders torn off and prop shaft bent 90° with only minor flooding.

If you have major machinery changes, holes can be cut to move equipment thru and later welded. With care no visible sign of the hole will be apparent after repainting.

For you greenies, steel can be recycled forever or left to decompose.

Fiberglass meets the needs of the general public better than steel. That doesn't make it a better material.

Different solutions for different needs.

Greetings,
Ms. Liz. Yup. REALLY good survey with ultrasound is needed. I, also, am concerned about the working room around the engine. Doesn't look like much space. IF it is that cramped, how difficult would it be to service AND if so difficult, how often was is serviced in the past?
Even if you use the 100 gallon tank for fuel, 100 gallons isn't much. Is there room to add more tankage?

Ask the ultrasound tech to pay particular attention to the area under the shaft log and the waterline. The two areas most likely to show bad corrosion.
Her location implies a life in fresh water which is a good thing.

If you want a glossy finish that looks like a FG boat's gelcoat just popped out of the mold then a steel hull is very expensive to maintain. On the other hand if you are happy with a work boat finish and willing to do it yourself then it's not expensive to maintain.

Yo steel work boat!

"Fiberglass lasts forever".

GRP continues to harden over time , it lasts till a load requires the hull to flex more than it can at that point in time. Overbuilding by 400% (as done on inspected vessels) attempts to solve this problem.

A too thin steel hull section is repaired by installing a new section.

In Euroland the charge is by the square meter , no big deal.

I saw the boat today.

Note to self: ask for lots of CURRENT photos. The boat has been sitting for 5 years on blocks. She is in rough shape. Even the local mice didn't want to live in her.

But I had a lovely 9 hour drive with a good friend who has agreed to continue accompanying me on my quest.

Thanks everyone who took the time to give me advice and share knowledge. I know a bit more and have looked into steel boats now.

I will continue to post any boat that seems possible but I am unsure about. Is looking for boats for someone else the equivalent of shopping for shoes for someone else??? Lots of fun and doesn't cost anything!

Liz said:

I saw the boat today.

Note to self: ask for lots of CURRENT photos. The boat has been sitting for 5 years on blocks. She is in rough shape. Even the local mice didn't want to live in her.

But I had a lovely 9 hour drive with a good friend who has agreed to continue accompanying me on my quest.

Thanks everyone who took the time to give me advice and share knowledge. I know a bit more and have looked into steel boats now.

I will continue to post any boat that seems possible but I am unsure about. Is looking for boats for someone else the equivalent of shopping for shoes for someone else??? Lots of fun and doesn't cost anything!

Click to expand...

Liz, in considering steel boats, consider the Diesel Duck 382s & 462s. These are true passagemakers, if that's your need; they can of course do coastal cruising. The thing is, they have 1K+ fuel tanks, so that's a consideration for what you want to do.


See:

Liz said:

I saw the boat today.

Note to self: ask for lots of CURRENT photos. The boat has been sitting for 5 years on blocks. She is in rough shape. Even the local mice didn't want to live in her.....

But I had a lovely 9 hour drive with a good friend who has agreed to continue accompanying me on my quest.

Lots of fun and doesn't cost anything!

Click to expand...

It`s misleading to advertise a boat with pics of it in water without disclosing it has been on the hard 5 years. I admire your charitable view of the 9 hour drive.
At least you were able to see all of the hull. There might be worrying reasons it is not in the water.
Steel comes with rust, wood comes with rot/worm,f/glass comes with osmosis. No building material is hassle free.

That is the boat for me when I win the lottery. Oh wait, does that mean I have to buy lottery tickets?

She is beautiful!

And as for the drive and $150 in gas....

That looks very tempting! As far as corrosion, hull will not thin equally in a way that makes it hard to see. It will be pitted and obvious while it’s on land. So, don’t worry too much about that if it looks smooth enough. Cut in a bow thruster while it’s on blocks!

Mikala said:

$16,900?! What a steal...er, steel. Pretty sure all the FG boats will say steel is bad. All of the steel boat owners will say steel is awesome. Just a hunch.

As for me, I have a fiberglass boat, but think steel trawlers are awesome. I also believe the US market doesn’t appreciate them because we are programmed to only see value in mass-marketed production products. Never made sense to me.

Click to expand...

You kinda just proved yourself wrong lol.

ddw36 said:

Liz, in considering steel boats, consider the Diesel Duck 382s & 462s. These are true passagemakers, if that's your need; they can of course do coastal cruising. The thing is, they have 1K+ fuel tanks, so that's a consideration for what you want to do.

Click to expand...

Lol right, don’t forget to include boats up to 100x the cost of the one she looking at. Because that makes sense.

Sea Word said:

Lol right, don’t forget to include boats up to 100x the cost of the one she looking at. Because that makes sense.

Click to expand...

It doesn't hurt for her to get some reality re: boat buying, as many on here have discussed in other threads/posts. So what if it's 100x what she thinks? At least she can arrive at a boat that she can afford that meets her needs, whether FG or steel.


She also needs to know, as others have basically said elsewhere, about buying an old vs new boat: "Pay now or pay later."

ddw36 said:

Liz, in considering steel boats, consider the Diesel Duck 382s & 462s. These are true passagemakers, if that's your need; they can of course do coastal cruising. The thing is, they have 1K+ fuel tanks, so that's a consideration for what you want to do.


See:

Click to expand...

I love the DD 382. One of my favorite 7 knot go-slow boats under 40'

The one is the video is beautiful both inside and out!

Jim

I think it is true that most American recreational boaters are afraid of steel boats. I'm just wondering if there are any hard statistical facts that prove that mindset right or wrong...do steel boats remain on the sales block twice as long as their fiberglass counterparts? Do comparable steel boats end up selling for less price than their fiberglass counterparts? Not sure if broker associations even compile this type of data but it would be interesting to see.

Steel boat

Hi Liz,
so not the boat you we’re looking for I guess!
Did you take photos? Could you post somewhere if you did ?
A couple of the photos from the ad said 2019 on them and it did not look too bad there ,
It’s a project boat for sure but if the engine is good and hull ok it could be a bargain for somebody
And FYI if it was a Perkins 4-234 engine they go forever and are easy rebuilds they also sip fuel so the tiny fuel tank could easy give 30 plus hours of motoring
Cheers Warren