On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:16:07 -0400, "Roger Long" wrote:

Remember also that you may have a difficult time documenting the vessel if
you can't get in touch with the builder(s). This may be important for
foreign voyages. Glass boats have records, hull numbers, etc. Be sure to
check this out as well.

Boat's already documented... and was tested by labs when it was built to ensure
a good hull construction... I guess those are two good signs.

On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:37:27 -0400, "Roger Long"
wrote:

"Strong as wood, light as steel."

You are being unfair to steel. For openers, it has the same strength
to weight as aluminum which is often regarded as being lighter. If
strength is not really the issue and stiffness is, everything is
bulkier, which automatically means stiffer, than steel, for the same
strength. Steel is not heavy in a large enough vessel. I figure 1/8 or
inch plating and forty feet of length. Rather have aluminum, actually.
A forty foot powerboat, 1/4 inch thick. You want cleats to be as big
as possible, so that sharp corners don't abuse the line. This makes
aluminum more attractive than steel.

Casady

Thank you. 30 years designing metal boats and I guess I missed that tidbit
of information somewhere along the line

--
Roger Long

On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:38:01 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

My wife & I have been talking about moving onto a boat & sailing away for a long
time -- the biggest stumbling block to buying a boat the size we'd need for
liveaboard is $ -- we'd have to sell our house 1st & then buy the boat.

however, we happened upon a FC boat that we can afford w/o selling the house.

I've spent about a month reading about FC boats and it seems that there is a
common thread:
If the boat was home built -- run away
if the boat was professionally built - there's a very good chance it's solid as
hell.
The only way to truely "check" the construction is to cut away the hull &
examine the steel beneath.

The hull was professionally built in Canada -- and then "owner finished" the
interior. The standing rigging is overkill (bigger than needed, which is fine
with me); the running rigging needs some tlc here and there.

So now I'm looking for people that have had experiences with FC boats (good or
bad) to get an idea if we want to make the leap. We would be taking the boat
on shake down cruises for the next year while still working & sell the house;
once done -- sail off. So anyone with off shore sailing experience in an FC
boat -- I'm very interested to hear from you.

Thanks
-josh

Helped a good friend bring a professionally built 44 foot FC
pilothouse ketch from Jacksonville, Fl to Pensacola. He got rid of it
a few years later. Something to do with being unable to obtain
insurance. You need to check that out.

I'm told that if the hull has the proper frame and mesh reinforcement,
is continuously, once started, and monolithically constructed, it will
be sound. How to make sure that actually happened........?

Frank

On Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:38:01 -0700, Josh Assing
wrote:

My wife & I have been talking about moving onto a boat & sailing away for a long
time -- the biggest stumbling block to buying a boat the size we'd need for
liveaboard is $ -- we'd have to sell our house 1st & then buy the boat.

however, we happened upon a FC boat that we can afford w/o selling the house.

I've spent about a month reading about FC boats and it seems that there is a
common thread:
If the boat was home built -- run away
if the boat was professionally built - there's a very good chance it's solid as
hell.
The only way to truely "check" the construction is to cut away the hull &
examine the steel beneath.

The hull was professionally built in Canada -- and then "owner finished" the
interior. The standing rigging is overkill (bigger than needed, which is fine
with me); the running rigging needs some tlc here and there.

So now I'm looking for people that have had experiences with FC boats (good or
bad) to get an idea if we want to make the leap. We would be taking the boat
on shake down cruises for the next year while still working & sell the house;
once done -- sail off. So anyone with off shore sailing experience in an FC
boat -- I'm very interested to hear from you.

Thanks
-josh


I have a good friend who has a 55 ft. F.C. boat and his experience has
been:

The boat is heavy for it's size and requires more sail area then a
lighter boat. On the other hand it sails well when other boats are
reefing.

He hit a rock at about 7 knots and knocked a hole in the bottom. Said
things got sort of exciting there for a few minutes. Was able to beach
the boat and repaired the damage using some sort of "epoxy stuff" to
use his words. That was more then a year ago and no problems with the
repair to date.

The boat has a very low resale value. In his case he is 78 years old
and doesn't care, but you might.

Other comments:

If the boat has integral fuel tanks it is possible for the diesel to
soak through the hull. Have seen a couple of boats with that problem.

As regards to "sailing off". I would suggest that unless you have
"sailed off" before you do not sell the house for the first couple of
years - rent it. A large number of people lose enthusiasm for the
boating life style after a couple of years.






Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:17:07 +0700, Bruce in Bangkok
wrote:



As regards to "sailing off". I would suggest that unless you have
"sailed off" before you do not sell the house for the first couple of
years - rent it. A large number of people lose enthusiasm for the
boating life style after a couple of years.

Good advice. In considering moving to Florida we decided such
a plan best. Perhaps we will lose our enthusiasm for Florida.
A 2-year trial seems about right.

--Vic

He hit a rock at about 7 knots and knocked a hole in the bottom. Said

That does concern me -- as we hit a container about 40 miles off california
scared the **it out of us... we took on water; but the pumps were able to keep
up until we could make it to shore.... (good tag line I saw: "There is no
better bilge pump that a scared sailor with a bucket")

The boat has a very low resale value. In his case he is 78 years old
and doesn't care, but you might.

I've never owned a boat that I sold for more than I bought it for -- I don't
look at it as an investment...

If the boat has integral fuel tanks it is possible for the diesel to
soak through the hull. Have seen a couple of boats with that problem.

Good tip - -I'll be sure to look at the tank the enxt time I go out with the
surveyor. I'm sure he'll check that too.

As regards to "sailing off". I would suggest that unless you have
"sailed off" before you do not sell the house for the first couple of
years - rent it. A large number of people lose enthusiasm for the
boating life style after a couple of years.

I've been around boats all my life; been sailing in the ocean @ 14. (single
handed)

We just cannot afford to keep the house with only me working.. (I can work from
anywhere)

On 2008-07-20 15:59:59 -0400, Josh Assing said:

We just cannot afford to keep the house with only me working.. (I can work from
anywhere)

If you sell and invest diversely, you should still have enough to get a
new place in a cheaper area with lots left over (one of my possible
plans. We're in a high-rent district compared to where we'd like to
retire.)

And I'm with Roger: get an old fiberglass boat for half of what you can afford.

Additionally, you may not need as much boat as you think, if you
haven't actually walked the docks for a while.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Additionally, you may not need as much boat as you think, if you
haven't actually walked the docks for a while.

I live on an island and do dock duty down at the marina.

-josh

On 2008-07-23 12:13:41 -0400, Josh Assing said:

Additionally, you may not need as much boat as you think, if you
haven't actually walked the docks for a while.

I live on an island and do dock duty down at the marina.

-josh

Then you're in better shape than most anyone -- if you can get aboard
and 'try them for size' with your wife. Simply seeing isn't the same as
going through the motions of everyday life. There are some gorgeous
boats that we found serious drawbacks with when we did that.

BTW, Our assessment agrees with yours as to size. 38' seems to be a
sweet spot for having two "work" spaces, but we did find a 34 that
beats most shorter than 40' for our purposes.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/