In article , R Whellum
wrote:

glass fibre absorbs water which reacts with some chemicals that can result
in blisters, timber swells with water absorbtion .. can rot... be attacked
by worms, steel rusts and aluminium can corrode quickly, ferro cement ...
porous..corrosion prone....
So what is best to use?
It would seem that no material - even steel or aluminium is pure and so can
have problems, so it all comes down to cost of ownership over time.....but
no method guarantees the hull will be in good condition when you want to
sell in 5 - 10 years time. So is the best solution to hire ?

Many ways to look at it. All those maladies you mention are common with
those respective materials. Every boat needs constant care or it will
destroy itself.

The cost of constant repairs has to be allowed for and is different
with each type of boat. It would seem to me that, over the long term, a
well constructed production fiberglass boat has the greatest likelihood
to be in salable condition after 10 years with moderate maintainence.

Wood can last well, especially with modern materials. Steel and
aluminum do well, too. A zillion commercial boats can't be wrong!

raoul