I have questions regarding the structure of hulls. I want to buy a live aboard/ blue water boat. I have found 3 in the North West that I like. One is built with a 1/16 th gel coat and 1/2 inch fiberglass. The other is 3 layers of mohagoney planks with epoxy or fiberglass (composit) and the other is 1/16 gel 1/8 fiberglass with balsa wood core 3/8 and 1/8 fiberglass. I don't know which is better. Please help. I need a live aboard/blue water boat. Or any info to help me in deciding what king of hull to look more into. thank you frenchy
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My question is legit. I found a choey lee that is a pilot house 43' and it has the 1/2" fiberglass hull designed by bob perry, The other is a center cockpit cutter built by Brown & Elder and designed by Bob Finch. And it is 47 feet long. thanks if you can help frenchy
someone told me not to get all fiberglass. They said that if I hit anything, the whole hull will crack. But then again I would think that wood would do the same thing. I don't know. I really don't know. That's why I'm asking for help. help help. frenchy
Hi Frenchy, if I were looking for a live...
aboard boat the type of hull construction would be at the bottom of my list. Whether balsa core, solid FRP, or wood matters little because you have the good and bad of each type. Freedom made some good balsa cored hulls, but there are Freedoms out there that I would not touch. Our boat fits the blue water and live aboard requirements. The results of a competent marine survey will tell you the hull condition regardless of the material used. That is where I hang my hat, FWIW. Terry
aboard boat the type of hull construction would be at the bottom of my list. Whether balsa core, solid FRP, or wood matters little because you have the good and bad of each type. Freedom made some good balsa cored hulls, but there are Freedoms out there that I would not touch. Our boat fits the blue water and live aboard requirements. The results of a competent marine survey will tell you the hull condition regardless of the material used. That is where I hang my hat, FWIW. Terry
Solid fiber glass hulls can and have taken a lot
of punishment without failing. There are more serious problems than breaching the hull if you hit the rocks. You will be aground and not in the best of conditions. I think that you are at the beginning of a dream and have much work and study to do before you plan to commit to anything. There is no boat made that can survive the worst that the sea can offer but there are many that can bring you home if you are as capable as the boat.
of punishment without failing. There are more serious problems than breaching the hull if you hit the rocks. You will be aground and not in the best of conditions. I think that you are at the beginning of a dream and have much work and study to do before you plan to commit to anything. There is no boat made that can survive the worst that the sea can offer but there are many that can bring you home if you are as capable as the boat.
Ask Bob Perry
You can ask Bob Perry himself about the Choey Lee. For a fee he'll provide you with details about any of the specific models he's designed. He used to charge $300 for a detailed report. Not too bad a price if you're serious and it's down to one or two boats. It just might make the difference. As far as contacting him, he used to advertise in the back of the major magazines.
You can ask Bob Perry himself about the Choey Lee. For a fee he'll provide you with details about any of the specific models he's designed. He used to charge $300 for a detailed report. Not too bad a price if you're serious and it's down to one or two boats. It just might make the difference. As far as contacting him, he used to advertise in the back of the major magazines.
Well I appreciate all the feed back I'm getting from every body. I still don't know what I want. The 43' that has 1/2" hull fiberglass. Has a flaw. The deck has plywood under the fiberglass. My dad says it's a really bad thing {Personal exprerience}. So if I go with the mohogony boat that I just can't seem to find any info on. I don't know. This is frustrating. I have begged the brockers in Washington to send me the survey on the boat for a week now. And they still haven't e-mailled me anything. I wish I knew more about the boat. All I know is it is a Bob Finch design and it was built by Brown & Elder out of San Diego. Any body know anything. Help stil need help. Frenchy
I agree with consulting Bob Perry
I would not want a cored hull of any discription. It may never be a problem but solid Fiberglass will be strong and fairly Maintenance free. I am looking for a new boat myself and have rejected many designs for this reason. Some coreing above the water line you will find in a lot of boats. I had a Cheoy Lee for 25 years and the solid fiberglass hull withstood anything I could throw at it including 70 knot winds off Cape Hatteras.
I would not want a cored hull of any discription. It may never be a problem but solid Fiberglass will be strong and fairly Maintenance free. I am looking for a new boat myself and have rejected many designs for this reason. Some coreing above the water line you will find in a lot of boats. I had a Cheoy Lee for 25 years and the solid fiberglass hull withstood anything I could throw at it including 70 knot winds off Cape Hatteras.
Hi Frenchy, most boat decks these days...
use marine grade plywood core. Nothing wrong with this as long as you keep the moisture out. FRP encased marine plywood deck designs are strong and lighter weight than solid FRP. The same goes for balsa cored hulls. In colder climates the balsa helps to keep the boat warmer and it weighs less. Unless you paid for a survey to be done, the broker will not pay for it nor will they normally have one on file. Surveys and the resulting reports are normally done by the prospective buyer after the sales contract has been signed. The survey document is normally confidential between the surveyor and client. The broker should tell you this. Terry
use marine grade plywood core. Nothing wrong with this as long as you keep the moisture out. FRP encased marine plywood deck designs are strong and lighter weight than solid FRP. The same goes for balsa cored hulls. In colder climates the balsa helps to keep the boat warmer and it weighs less. Unless you paid for a survey to be done, the broker will not pay for it nor will they normally have one on file. Surveys and the resulting reports are normally done by the prospective buyer after the sales contract has been signed. The survey document is normally confidential between the surveyor and client. The broker should tell you this. Terry
Hull material
I have a glass hull and balsa cored deck. I was told (by a surveyor) to stay away from plywood cored deck. If it ever leak, plywood wicks water to a wider area. The veritcal grain of Balsa tends keep water localize thus less rot damage to repair.
I have a glass hull and balsa cored deck. I was told (by a surveyor) to stay away from plywood cored deck. If it ever leak, plywood wicks water to a wider area. The veritcal grain of Balsa tends keep water localize thus less rot damage to repair.
this responce is to terry Cox. My dad had sailed for 20 years all over the South Pacific and raced between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia were I'm originaly from. And A lot of well known racers from down under that my dad knew, told him not to have plywood under the fiberglass. well my dad didn't have a choice when he had his boat built in Australia. I guess the builder could only built it with plywood under the fiberglass. Well 7 years later, he had to have the whole deck redone. due to water getting in under the fiberglass. So I'm kind of skeptic about the plywood. After all This goes back to the old saying always listen to your parents. But then again I may not have the choice. As far as surveys, The broker told me he would get me a copy of the survey that was done back in march. He told me that 3 times. still nothing. And that goes back to what my dad said. "If they are not willing to give you the info that you want than they are hiding something. Again thank you for the input. The more the better thank you very much. frenchy
Hi Fenchy, our 1991 Hunter boat was built ...
with solid FRP below the waterline, balsa core above the waterline and FRP encased marine grade plywood decks. We purchased the boat in 2002 and the surveyor went over the boat with a fine tooth comb and moisture meter. He gave the boat very high marks. I cannot assess or explain your dad's experience, but considering the wide use of marine grade plywood deck coring in boat construction these days, I would say they seem to have the production technique quality control issue resolved. There are always exceptions, but we have been quite pleased with our boat. If there is a boat that you like in a distant city, go there and spend some time with on it. If, after that, you still want it, hire a good marine surveyor to go through the boat. If it still passes muster, go for it. All you can do is learn from the experience. I suspect the broker thinks you're just a looky lou. They get serious once you plunk down a deposit. Make sure you include contingencies. Terry
with solid FRP below the waterline, balsa core above the waterline and FRP encased marine grade plywood decks. We purchased the boat in 2002 and the surveyor went over the boat with a fine tooth comb and moisture meter. He gave the boat very high marks. I cannot assess or explain your dad's experience, but considering the wide use of marine grade plywood deck coring in boat construction these days, I would say they seem to have the production technique quality control issue resolved. There are always exceptions, but we have been quite pleased with our boat. If there is a boat that you like in a distant city, go there and spend some time with on it. If, after that, you still want it, hire a good marine surveyor to go through the boat. If it still passes muster, go for it. All you can do is learn from the experience. I suspect the broker thinks you're just a looky lou. They get serious once you plunk down a deposit. Make sure you include contingencies. Terry
Well Terry, again thank you for your info. But guess what? I finally got the survey. And it's bad. The 47 footer that I was looking at is in bad shape. All of the deck is plywood and fiberglass. and the surveyer found some soft spots. and his meter also ran hi in humidity content. The inside flooring is also plywood. And all the cabinets are also plywood. The flooring, that I don't understand. And the boat has a bunch of leaks all over the place. Some of the sea cock valves will not rotate. Some of the hatches leak. The shaft needs to be repacked because it leaks. But I guess the most important to me is the deck. After all all the deck hardware is attached to the deck. I guess you could say that my senses were wright. So now that leaves me with the choey lee. But it also has a plywood deck, with fiberglass on top. There use to be a teak deck, I guess a previous owner took the teak off and added fiberglass. At least that perticular boat has a great survey. I guess if I had a half a million dollars, I would be able to get the ultimate boat for my familly and I. From the biginning safety is my concern. Again thanks for all the info. I have been learning a great deal every day. thank you, keep the info coming in. Frenchy
Frenchy, 47 feet is a seriously big boat with
very serious expenses attached to it. How large is your family? Do they know how to sail? Will they be able to "crew" for you? Cam you do the maintenance on a boat? That is , do you have the skills?
very serious expenses attached to it. How large is your family? Do they know how to sail? Will they be able to "crew" for you? Cam you do the maintenance on a boat? That is , do you have the skills?
Well Ross, I'm looking for a live aboard/blue wate boat. Between 40 and 50 feet. More on the smaller end if possible. One of the things my wife and I agreed on is 3 bedrooms and 2 heads. I can handle a boat that size. yes I can fix just about anything on a boat. I'm very much a hands on kind a guy. My trade is Welding/programing welding robots/fabricator. Amongs a lot of other trades.Some in the wood industry. I have a wife and two kids. One boy and one girl. There for the 3 bedroom idea. I would like smaller but you have to please the wife two. The 47 footer is kind of a lost idea due to the survey. It has way to many issues. It seems to leak everyware. And half of the equipement on board doesn't seem to work at all. I'm not looking for a money pit. I want to leave with in the next 2 to 3 years and surcomnavigate the world. I plan on taking my time. I promised my wife some day I would take her were I was born. Well that is on the way. New Caledonia. Anyway if the boat is a little long, I will make sure that it is equiped to be singlehanded as much as possible. the choey Lee that I'm looking at is 43 feet and has 3 cabins, 2 baths and It is a pilot house. The hull is 1/16 gel coat and 1/2 inch fiberglass. and the survey is looking really good and the price is in my range. I plan on paying cash. No debts. If you know what I mean. And no I'm not a know it all. but I'm a quick learner. I grew up in the South Pacific the first 1/3 of my life. and on the California coast the 2 nd 1/3 of my life. Now in the North West. Probably more than you wanted to know about me. But I'm good with it. frenchy
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