I think our discussion is getting ahead of itself. We need to decide what to
build the hull with. I vote for steel. I think it is the toughest material
that could be used to build the hull as cheaply as possible, maybe not the
"best" material but a one off hull will be cheaper in steel. If I'm gonna be
washed up on a reef I'd like to be in a steel boat. Repairability is
excellent, easier and faster than any other material. Even a hole below the
waterline can be welded/plated fairly quickly. Steel makes a drier boat, no
leaks from deck furnishings or from the hull/deck joint. One of the main
concerns with pulling a fiberglass or wood boat out of a "stuck" situation is
how to tie the tow vessell to it without pulling it apart. Not so much a
problem with steel. I seem to remember a well built "glass boat being dropped
by a travel lift and becoming a total loss. After hurricane Rita I looked at
50 to 75 foot steel shrimp boats that had literally destroyed everything
around them, including the one that went thru the marina leaving a tremendous
path of destruction. Most of these boats could have been easily repaired
(props, deck rigging, etc.) after being picked up out of the road, and put
back in the water. very few actually sank. One boat actually beat a hole in
the pavement about 30 feet long by 15 feet wide with it's bow when it got
washed or blown from where it was tied. Steel is tuff, economical, fast to
build with and understood anywhere in the world. A few basic tools and a
welding machine on board and with a little education anyone can repair it. If
you haven't noticed, I like steel, but I would sure like to see someone defend
ferro, or wood, either would be interesting.

If you are going to design and then build your own, cost criteria will
eliminate fiberglass unless you want to pay a huge premium.  To build one
hull, fiberglass is very expensive.  The savings to build with fiberglass
comes only with the benefit of reusing the mold time and time again.

When you think metal, of course, steel comes first to mind -- but you really
need to consider aluminum.  For me, I ended up with aluminum. Steel rusts
and must be painted.  Aluminum does not rust and does not have to be painted
but can be.  You must pay a little more attention to electrolysis issues
with aluminum, but aluminum is lighter and, in many respect, stronger.  It
has a better resale.

There are few Kasten articles that discuss the issue in some detail:

http://kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm
Aluminum vs. Steel  -  A comparison of their relative strengths, and the
advantages of each...

http://kastenmarine.com/steelboats.htm:
Some people claim that steel is too heavy for use as a yacht building
material.  Is there any truth in that claim...?

http://kastenmarine.com/aluminum.htm
Aluminum for Boats  -  Is there good reason to consider aluminum over
other hull materials?

Alan Wagner
Tampa, Florida
Building 53' Passagemaker in Aluminum

-------Original Message-------

From: bob england
Date: 11/1/2008 5:00:54 PM
To: passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com
Subject: [PUP] PUP-PPM hull material

I think our discussion is getting ahead of itself. We need to decide what to
build the hull with. I vote for steel. I think it is the toughest material
that could be used to build the hull as cheaply as possible, maybe not the
"best" material but a one off hull will be cheaper in steel.