metal versus composites

metal versus composites. Which is best for building?

Hi Guys:

I am looking into building an offshore CC fishing boat 27 - 30 foot. What is the best route, metal or composite and what are the advantages or disadvantages of each?


tallow98

 

Metal heavy
Composite light

Dave

 

Are you building a one off metal is the way to go because it's easier.

Unless your making a high speed hull composites is not really neaded.

If you are making a series off boats with the same specs composites is behter.

Metals like steel has alot off advantages, it's easy to cut out a pice and just weld in a new. If you hitt something you will get a bump and not a hole.
If you want to scrap the boat you can just sell it as junk steel and get a few dollar per tonn and it will be cutt up and melted for diferent purposes while composites can not be resycled easely(not that I know off)

Composites is light compared to strenght and it's easy to cast a boat if you have a mold and it's more efficiant to make in composites if you plan to make more than just one.

My thoughs.

 

G'day Tallow

The British (bless their little hearts) have a competition called conkers.

The are nuts (not the British, then who am I trying to kid)

To decide the winner they whack their nuts together (the conker nuts) and the winner is the one that survives.

Composite or steel. Put them on a collision course.

Then pick the winner.

Poida

 

Seen composite hit reef at speed, grind over it and keep sailing with minimal damage . (my last boat)

Seen steel hit reef and sink. (a mates boat)

Dave