The problem is the act of welding produces incredible heat which will ignite interior joinery and insulation. Steel hulls are repaired via welding new metal onto them. Rust can propagate at alarming rates if left unchecked, and it can be difficult to repair when the time comes to recondition the yacht. The inside of the boat is at risk of rusting in unseen areas where the paint has chipped and moister has accumulated. If you rub into a pilling, you need to cover the bare metal in fresh paint quickly to avoid rust from starting. Steel hulls rust wherever water accumulates on bare metal.
![ship construction materials ship construction materials](http://www.up-resin.com/Content/upload/2019290741/201908311357376284403.jpg)
While metal hulls may sound like a dream come true, they have one major pitfall: corrosion. This allows the interior to be finished in utmost luxury and spaciousness. High performance luxury yachts are made of aluminum because the hulls are lightweight, strong, and sturdy without taking up much interior space in the form of bulkheads and frames. Thicker steel hulls will offer more puncture resistance and added durability to the wear and tear of uncharted cruising where groundings and collisions are inevitable.Īluminum hulls are very light weight and incredibly strong, making them a favorite material for boats over 80 feet in length. Steel hulls offer excellent durability and repairability, if you were to collide with a reef, sandbar, or ice sheet, the steel will simply rub on it without much damage. Steel hulls are preferred by people who plan to sail in high latitudes and will run into ice. To them, it is a known material that they feel confident in their ability to repair. People who are comfortable working with metal tend to love metal hulls. Metal hulls in general are favored for their high strength and durability. Metal hulls fall into two main categories: Aluminum and Steel. On the contrary, if you don't mind the drawbacks and love the strengths, that is certainly the perfect material for you! Metals If the cons outweigh the pros from your perspective, then that is the wrong hull material for you. It really is a personal choice about which hull material you prefer. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, proving that none is better than the other. Looking at the more common hull construction materials, we see wood, fiberglass and metals dominating the scene. This is probably an example of a well made cement hull, which shows that any well made boat will last a long time. This boat has been rotting away for the past 4 years with no maintenance, and it still floats! The paint is peeling and her topsides look like hell, but the boat doesn't leak, doesn't fill with water, and doesn't sink. The owner died and the heirs have not come to collect it. The other problem with cement boats is insurance companies do not like them, so finding insurance for a cement hull can prove difficult.Īll this aside, there is a cement boat in my marina that has been abandoned for years.
![ship construction materials ship construction materials](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ayoubyahay-150529113834-lva1-app6892/95/materials-used-in-ship-building-4-638.jpg)
If the cement was not mixed properly, the hull could develop cracks and leak. After the cement cured, you could pop it out and sail it (after you finish the rest of the construction, it is funny how kit boat companies make it sound like building the hull is the hard part)! The problem with cement boats is the integrity of the hull greatly depended on the skill of the builder. It was advertised as an easy way to make a cruising boat, you could buy the molds and get a bunch of friends over to mix and pour the cement. CementĬement hulls were popular for amateur boat builders. Large cities will usually have one yard that is capable of handling these repairs, but a small yard on a tiny island may not be able to help with these repairs.
![ship construction materials ship construction materials](https://www.freightcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/isometric/building-materials.png)
SHIP CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS HOW TO
Even more difficult than the yard bill to fix an issue is the struggle to find qualified skilled technicians who know how to work with these materials. The price tag of these yachts keeps pace with the astronomical properties of these construction materials, and the cost of repairing any damages that might occur to these hulls is pricey. These materials have incredibly high strength to weight ratios, creating hulls of mammoth proportions and negligible weight. Kevlar and Carbon Fiber hulls are typically found in the ultralight and high performance yachts. Exotic Hull Materials High Tech Materials The most common categories are fiberglass, wood, and metals lesser seen categories are carbon, kevlar, and cement. When searching for your perfect boat, the question of hull material will inevitably come up.