On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:53:05 -0400, DSK wrote:

No such thing as a bad boat.


Not so sure about that. A few of the horrid ferro-cement abortions I've
seen during my life probably qualified.


Frank Boettcher wrote:
Hey now, I logged about 500 miles on a 44' custom built ferro-cement,
pilot house ketch, on a delivery crew. Wasn't so bad.


He didn't say that *all* ferro-cement boats were horrid
abortions.

Yes, I know.

Years ago, guy in the slip next to me had a ferro-cement double ender
he built himself. He motored, less spars and rig, down the
Mississippi River from somewhere up north, with the intention of
fitting out and heading south. Had a pregnant wife and a Newfoundland
dog. Waited for the wife to deliver, then after fitting out they
headed out. I had serious doubts about the boat, particularly the
chain plate design. They made it about half way across the Gulf and
hit a storm, were dismasted, rescued by a freighter, but the boat sank
in tow.

Never saw them again, I guess they went back up north. Felt sorry for
him, I'm fairly sure you can't get those home built ferro-cement boats
insured.

But the one I helped deliver was nice with the exception of a very
serous weather helm problem.

And I guess Capn Rob is right. If you are going to own sub standard
boats, you should never get out of sight of land.

Frank



Some are great, I knew a man in Florida with a
40' pinky schooner... the only one of that type I've ever
sailed... built out of ferro-cement. A few rough spots on
the hull but it was a great boat.

After thinking it over, I would have to say that there is
such a thing as a bad boat after all... ones that never
fulfill their basic function. Of coourse, in many cases it's
not really the boats fault.

DSK

"Frank Boettcher" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:53:05 -0400, DSK wrote:

No such thing as a bad boat.


Not so sure about that. A few of the horrid ferro-cement abortions I've
seen during my life probably qualified.


Frank Boettcher wrote:
Hey now, I logged about 500 miles on a 44' custom built ferro-cement,
pilot house ketch, on a delivery crew. Wasn't so bad.


He didn't say that *all* ferro-cement boats were horrid
abortions.

Yes, I know.

Years ago, guy in the slip next to me had a ferro-cement double ender
he built himself. He motored, less spars and rig, down the
Mississippi River from somewhere up north, with the intention of
fitting out and heading south. Had a pregnant wife and a Newfoundland
dog. Waited for the wife to deliver, then after fitting out they
headed out. I had serious doubts about the boat, particularly the
chain plate design. They made it about half way across the Gulf and
hit a storm, were dismasted, rescued by a freighter, but the boat sank
in tow.

Never saw them again, I guess they went back up north. Felt sorry for
him, I'm fairly sure you can't get those home built ferro-cement boats
insured.

That may have been the story I saw in SOUNDINGS a while back. The boat
literally fell apart underway. I thought the people had bought it, however,
rather than built it. But it's been too long to remember details. At any
rate it was a "floating" death trap. The family survived, but lost
everything.

Max