Hi guys. I'm a newbie on this site and find it a very interesting site.
My wife and I are looking at buying a boat now that the kids have flown the coop, and I have seen several negative comments regarding steel boats.
As a corrosion specialist of many years (too many years) one of my briefs was to visit yards and give advice on new boats, old boats and boats with specific problems.
Only last year, a sailor from New Jersey arrived in the UK on a 1948 60-foot steel motor-sailor, and she was in pristine condition. Why?
The original builders blast-cleaned the steelwork and coated it with a zinc-silicate
paint, and this has maintained the hull in excellent condition, with no maintenance carried out with regard to corrosion problems.
Just giving her a new topcoat every five years or so to keep her looking pretty!!
Please note that zinc-silicate coatings have been around since 1931 and they are still the best (and only really tough) coating for steel yachts. Using them, you do not require anodes in the bows or mid-ships. Only in the stern to look after the prop and prop-shaft.
And yes, I always advise blasting and coating the inetrior surfaces as well.
In cold weather or when sailing in colder waters you can get a temperature differential between the outside/inside hull surfaces that can lead to condensation on the inside faces. This is not helped by the steam from the kettle at tea-time!!
So yes, you guessed it. We are indeed buying a steel boat!!
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