On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 02:01:03 GMT, Brian Whatcott
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:37:49 -0500, rhys wrote:

On 15 Nov 2004 09:01:44 -0800, (Jacques) wrote:

Therefore, if you want your boat last, use epoxy.
(Did I mention that we sell epoxy?).

Jacques
http://bateau2.com

OK, you at least were honest about your self-interest.

Here's a question regarding steel. I think it's a great yacht
material, but the coatings applied can make the difference between a
50 year or greater lifespan or a 10 year rust bucket.

Two-part barrier paints and foams are commonly used to protect steel.
Would you say that the most effective method of keeping steel intact
is to epoxy coat all surfaces?

R.

Sand-blast and immediate zinc flame-spray.

Isn't that standard with mill-scale steel? After you've ground flat
the welds, I mean.

Two part epoxy to follow
would be nicely to gild the lily.

Inside AND out? Inside is where I am finding French steel from the
'80s is falling down...badly. How much of this is "operator-error" and
how much is insufficient technique or materials is open for debate,
but it seems that steel is either done right with inside coatings and
easy access, kept dry, etc., or it's a ureathane-foamed mess the
colour of Mars from all the rust...

It makes anything but an intimate inspection useless for the sailor
looking to buy used steel. I've seen beautiful boats that are rust
pits below the sole, and dirty, chipped boats that are virginal on the
interior of the hull in all the important spots. Even when zinc blast
followed by coal tar seems to have been the schedule.

Fibreglass is somewhat simpler in this respect in that you can
frequently read plastic boats by their covers. Not so with steel,
unfortunately. You've got the see the bloody boat at first hand to
even get a sense of whether it was prepped properly and/or maintained
by the clueless previous owner.

R.