steel vs. fiberglass hulls?

[YT]

I am close to buying mny first real sail boat, and am considering the pros and cons of steel hull (like a Spray) vs fiberglass or other sythetics as is more common. I am not interested in racing or speed, but more into comfort, safety ,and future long cruising, with some pleasure jaunts and harbor/shore sailing the next 3-4 years. Thanks

 

[txsailor]

My two cents... for what it's worth.

I have had a steel hull and fiberglass hulls, and I am in the market again, and I will look at nothing but fiberglass. There was a day when fiberglass was not as easy to repair in far away exotic places, whereas steel was possibly tougher and weldable, but with all the epoxys on the open market fiberglass seems a real acceptable user repairable product. Not to mention the steel hull I had required much more effort in preventative maintaince than fiberglass. Maybe it's the lazy side of me, but I don't feel one can go wrong with fiberglass. Just my two cents... of course. "Hot here in South Texas"

 

[Debra B]

If you go with steel

The trick to steel is to make sure that the builder sprayed everything during construction.Europeans love steel, and for anything over 45 feet, it is not a bad choice. Look at the other Roberts designs besides spray. They are big and roomy, but can hardly get out of their own way. Check out the Roberts line - they are more modern designed hulls.If you have one professionally built it should be ROUND hull not RADIUS hull construction. Radius construction makes a boat with fairly shallow bilges, round hull sits in the water and is a more stable ride.