If it doesn't move paint it. If it moves, salute it. If you're not sure,
salute it and cut down on the drinking.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"DSK" wrote in message
...
Well, that's an issue for another discussion. Steel boats
have their disadvantages from my point of view, too


Scotty wrote:
Besides the rust, and being heavy and slow, what are the
disadvantages of a steel boat.


Well, there's the rust. Then there's the fact that it's not as easy to
repair as fiberglass. And it rusts.

It can never be as strong as a well-engineered and well built fiberglass
hull & deck, much less carbon fiber. The biggest disadvantage is the rust,
howewver, which once it starts will never stop and eats away at every part
of the boat, especially the inaccessible crevices which are structurally
critical.

Then there's the issue of galvanic corrosion, not as bad as aluminum but a
dropped wire can eat right thru it, as can a penny in the bilge. The rust
is also a constant problem.

Because the galavanic corrosion, if lead ballast is used it must be very
carefully insulated from the structural parts of the boat (usually done
with fiberglass, which was originally invented as electrical insulation).
Alos because steel is so heavy, it is difficult to design a steel boat
that can carry a high proportion of ballast. Don't forget about rust.

Almost every steel boat will have slight ripples in the metal from
welding, and it will look crummy or else be filled with Bondo. This isn't
really a bad problem as long as the putty doesn't fall off from rust under
it.

As a Navy veteran, I can tell you that infinite man hours and oceans of
red-lead primer are not enough to keep a steel vessel from rusting away
beneath your feet. The first ship I was on actually had fiberglass patches
on the hull where the rust had eaten thru. What does that tell you?
Something like "Build it out of fiberglass in the first place!"

But if you're going to get shot at, a couple of steel plates between you &
the bullets is very nice. The only thing better would be some Kevlar or
some of that new fiberglass tank armor.



DSK