Greetings all,
I am one of those members who sits in the background reading and researching without ever contributing. You know the sort. But I want to start by thanking everyone who does contribute as I have learned much from you.
I am now (finally) starting the process of maybe buying a boat I can start getting in shape to cruise about on for several years. I've checked out a few boats, but a prospect just came up with a steel hull - of which I know very little, but I'm aware of rust concerns. I talked to the broker and he tells me the hull was professionally constructed and treated with an epoxy coating before two inches of insulation was added to the interior of the hull. I'm concerned that I won't be able to inspect the interior of the hull for rust (or more accurately my surveyor won't be able to), but the broker tells me that the epoxy and insulation will pretty much keep any interior rust from occurring. Anyone have any knowledge on this?
The ad says the boat had a UT two years ago and showed the thinnest sections were still 95%, but in my research I saw someone indicating you can't really do a UT on something with epoxy. Any thoughts?
Also, any tips on just how much work a steel hull is to maintian would be appreciated. I'm fairly handy, but I'd guess my knowledge of metal work barely surpasses my skills with fiberglass - which is to say not much. The boat is 20 years old, but has spent 75% of that time in fresh water and sounds like it has seen regular mainttenancce, but of course we'll see about that.
Thanks again to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience!
I am one of those members who sits in the background reading and researching without ever contributing. You know the sort. But I want to start by thanking everyone who does contribute as I have learned much from you.
I am now (finally) starting the process of maybe buying a boat I can start getting in shape to cruise about on for several years. I've checked out a few boats, but a prospect just came up with a steel hull - of which I know very little, but I'm aware of rust concerns. I talked to the broker and he tells me the hull was professionally constructed and treated with an epoxy coating before two inches of insulation was added to the interior of the hull. I'm concerned that I won't be able to inspect the interior of the hull for rust (or more accurately my surveyor won't be able to), but the broker tells me that the epoxy and insulation will pretty much keep any interior rust from occurring. Anyone have any knowledge on this?
The ad says the boat had a UT two years ago and showed the thinnest sections were still 95%, but in my research I saw someone indicating you can't really do a UT on something with epoxy. Any thoughts?
Also, any tips on just how much work a steel hull is to maintian would be appreciated. I'm fairly handy, but I'd guess my knowledge of metal work barely surpasses my skills with fiberglass - which is to say not much. The boat is 20 years old, but has spent 75% of that time in fresh water and sounds like it has seen regular mainttenancce, but of course we'll see about that.
Thanks again to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience!