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