Anybody? Largest composite/fiberglass boat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by KnottyBuoyz, Jul 11, 2007.

  1. KnottyBuoyz
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    KnottyBuoyz Provocateur & Raconteur

    Anybody have an idea of what's the largest composite or fiberglass boat currently in the world? Trying to settle a bet/argument. Tried the Guiness Book of Records site, no luck there. Think I read something in an old ProBoat mag once but can't find that either. :?: Thnx.
     
  2. charmc
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    charmc Senior Member

    Indian Princess, originally Southern Cross III, might be the largest powerboat at 181 ft/55 m.

    Mirabella V is, I think, both the largest composite sailing vessel and the largest composite vessel of any type, at 247 ft/75 m.

    Happy Days, at 164 ft/50 m, is the largest composite powerboat built in the US.
     
  3. safewalrus
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    safewalrus Ancient Marriner

    Charlie said it all really - i do know that 'THE' Royal Navy (you know the one that doesn't need a qualifying name in fornt of it!) built a GRP minesweeper back in the 70's to 80's but can't remember the size (other than minesweeper size! small by Naval stndards large by Yacht Standards was a success against magnetic mines but they didn't build anymore for various reasons! money mainly)
     
  4. charmc
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    charmc Senior Member

    The GRP, or FRP (I think here the US term is more accurate, as it's actually glass fibers that reinforce the plastic resin, not just ground up beer mugs) minesweepers were around 150-160 ft, I think.

    Didn't Chuckie Windsor, (you know, Betty's boy), sail on one of those things for a while?
     
  5. Crag Cay
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    Crag Cay Senior Member

    No, his was wooden. (Ton class? HMS Bronington ?)
     
  6. longliner45
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    what about the maltes falcon?
     
  7. mydauphin
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    mydauphin Senior Member

    Read today

    Swedish Navy Minesweeper 350ft

    Christensen has 160 footer, building 190-220 footers
    Their quote "In constructing a yacht, composite is efficient and steel is fast, but to build the same length boat in steel, you'd lose a stateroom..."
     
  8. charmc
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    charmc Senior Member

    Steel hull.
     
  9. PI Design
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    PI Design Senior Member

    Walrus - You were thinking of the Hunt Class MCMV, reckoned by the Royal Navy to be the biggest ever composite warship (at one point, the biggest composite ship of any type, but not sure now - depends how you classify 'big'). Length = 60m, disp = 750tonnes.

    http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.1970
     
  10. longliner45
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    I thought I saw a artical on the maltes that said it was carbon fiber ,,,as a matter of fact it was on dicovery,,,,,,,but,,,,I could be wrong ,,,,,,,,,,,again,longliner
     
  11. marshmat
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    marshmat Senior Member

    Maltese Falcon has a steel hull, aluminum superstructure, and carbon fibre masts.
    At 765 tonnes and 75.22 m LOA, Mirabella V beats the Hunt-class boat (750 t, 60 m) on both counts.
     

  12. PI Design
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    PI Design Senior Member

    But its not GRP, which Hunt Class are...
     
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