[shank32095]

Recently traded real estate that was very difficult to sell in Costa Rica for an immaculate 57' Steel Ketch. The vessel is in perfect shape without even one square millimeter of rust to be found. After listening to all the entertaining back and forth on Pros and Cons of Steel sailboats which ended after it's 10th season I would like some FACTUAL information on metal boats. I need to find out if my vessel needs to stay or go. The best source I have found, granted it is from one of the foremost metal sailboat builders, is the site below.

Metal Boats For Blue Water - Kasten Marine Design, Inc.

 

[Mr. Bubs]

I hear Brent Swain is a wealth of information.

 

[TQA]

They are tough and they rust.

What else do you need to know?

 

[shank32095]

I hear Brent Swain is a wealth of information.

Thanks, but I want reliable information from a professional who has valid information. I have heard enough BS rants on his use of coal tar epoxy and recycled materials. Kasten Marine seems like the best source I have located. Problem with Brent is he is basically a low budget DIY'er with information geared towards promoting his program of extremely cheap,
poorly designed boats that are really unattractive. He also has a habit of not answering questions that are adverse to his program or contradict what he has previously stated as fact.

 

[shank32095]

They are tough and they rust.

What else do you need to know?

Certainly a wealth of knowledge you bring to the table there Captain.

 

[kwaltersmi]

I am by no means a metal boat expert, but here's a bit of info about metal sailboats that was shared with me by Ted Brewer: The Metal Yacht - Aluminum & Steel Sailboat Perspectives

 

[christian.hess]

the problem shank is you went on that steel boat thread...which is ww3 and a bit more and absiluetly useless for anyone wanting information.

the fact that people still go there and get sucked into a vortex of stupidity and bashing baffles me, and makes me think people have even more time on their hands than me!

the other issue I feel is you are now slightly dissapointed in any advice you have received so far...

there are many of us who have been on steel boats, done maintenance on them, cruised on them, and work on them that would happily offer little tips here and there

I have seen some MAJOR work done replating a cruising steel french boat for example in panama that would absolutely destroy most cruisers dreams and hopes in a second

yet there was a dutch/german steel guy there that made the replating and major structural repair look so easy I got the steel bug too.

there is a wealth of information out there

just remember steel boats are worked on all around the globe and are for the most part easier to maintain than even glass boats...simple work just repetitive, and on schedule

never let a steel boat go too long as it WILL get beyond a point of proper repair

good luck!

beautiful boat btw

 

[shank32095]

christian.hess

Another question for you or anyone else knowledgable on the subject. Say I wanted to enjoy the 57' Steel Ketch I recently got, sailing the South China Sea, Indonesia, OZ etc. for a couple years and then sell it. What location do you think might be the best market wise to sell an upper end Steel vessel?

 

[christian.hess]

anywhere in the world???????????????????????????????????

id say the med first
panama lately has had a price spike regarding boats, it used to be you could get deals there a lot more than now.
thailand or neearby areas
carribean
new zealand maybe?

Im SURE there are better places, and poeple with up to date info on where is best to sell

for example in my opinion selling a high end steel boat in the states would be a long sell...unless you got that one perfect person who wants it just so!

and then basically all your online yachtworld.com type places that basically at that price range people come to you as do the brokers

btw my dad since passed used to be a yacht broker in puerto banus, marbella, spain.

back in the 80s that was THE place to buy and sell(for high end yachts)...some secrets he passed on, come to think about it...being a yacht broker might be something of a career I would love to get into later in life.

good luck

 

[bobperry]

Shank:
My guess would be Northern Europe where there is more of a tradition of quality built steel boats and more good examples of the type. They are not oddities in Europe.

 

[SVTatia]

christian.hess

Another question for you or anyone else knowledgable on the subject. Say I wanted to enjoy the 57' Steel Ketch I recently got, sailing the South China Sea, Indonesia, OZ etc. for a couple years and then sell it. What location do you think might be the best market wise to sell an upper end Steel vessel?

The question is to Christian but as a previous steel boat owner (Brewer design) I'll state that a steel boat to sell (easily), needs in this order:
1) be in good to excellent shape
2) built by a reputable builder
3) from a reputable designer

Miss one and its a hard sell anywhere. I agree with Bob - in northern Europe they are pretty common, but you will have to compete with the immaculate Dutch and German steel boats, but at 57' it will be a niche market anyway.
Take care of the boat as you cruise and good luck.

 

[christian.hess]

The question is to Christian but as a previous steel boat owner (Brewer design) I'll state that a steel boat to sell (easily), needs in this order:
1) be in good to excellent shape
2) built by a reputable builder
3) from a reputable designer

Miss one and its a hard sell anywhere. I agree with Bob - in northern Europe they are pretty common, but you will have to compete with the immaculate Dutch and German steel boats, but at 57' it will be a niche market anyway.
Take care of the boat as you cruise and good luck.

bingo, that and whatever taxes and cut youll take from selling there...

however that would be the place to sell

dutch and germans are to steel, what italians are to pasta

 

[knuterikt]

Shank:
My guess would be Northern Europe where there is more of a tradition of quality built steel boats and more good examples of the type. They are not oddities in Europe.

Warning !!
To sell a boat (used or new) in the EU the boat has to be CE marked in accordance with the "recreational boat directive" aka RCD Safety and environment: EU harmonised requirements for recreational craft - Maritime industries - Enterprise and Industry

If you don't have the paperwork for this i can be a costly process.
You would basically need to hire a naval architect or classification society to get this done.

 

[ur_other_port]

Needle gun, wire wheel, sand, chemprime, steel seal, primer, paint. Repeat every year or as needed.
I work on a steel boat and this is just how it is

 

[bobperry]

Damn port:
You make it sound so romantic.

A few times a year I'd fill a bucket with sudsy foam, grab a brush and wail away at my grp decks. I'd give my toes a good once over at the same time. Can't have any "Hong Kong foot" can we?

I kind of enjoyed it. No, I know I did enjoy it. Probably a toe thing.

 

[Donna_F]

...

I kind of enjoyed it. No, I know I did enjoy it. Probably a toe thing.

Um.

 

[bobperry]

Talk to Wynn, my Vietnamese pedicurist. I'm not complicated and she is well compensated.

 

[smackdaddy]

This guy kind of rocks if you ask me:

Tanton Yachts

 

[smackdaddy]

Yum.

Fixed it for you DRF.

 

[MedSailor]

What about finding the closest steel boat rally. They happen. When I was buying a grp boat in Bellingham I stumbled into one. They could be a wealth of information and you might even meet the steel boat equivalent of Bob strutting around the docks in a chain mail kilt.

Or they might be like an AA meeting.... " hi my name is Med and I own a metal boat...."

Seriously though. See if there is a steel boat rally near you.

Medsailor