ISO 'Wide Beam Canal' Boat Builders in US.

[shaun Moir]

as per @fallguy i will be doing a new thread with the process etc

 

[gonzo]

How does the weight compare to steel or aluminum?

 

[shaun Moir]

@gonzo
that's a very good question
Both HDPE and galvanized steel are common materials for pipes and pipe fittings. They also have two similarities: they are both durable and anti-corrosion. These make them popular options for water delivery, such as irrigation. however, HDPE is more lightweight since it is still plastic.

there are a few companies that currently make HDPE boats these are made for police boats etc (there is a company called

which make HDPE work boat we took that concept for our barge obviously

 

[gonzo]

However, steel pipes need less supports than PVC or HDPE for the same installation. For plumbing that may not be a major issue. For boat construction it is. It surprises me that as the designer/builder you can't answer the question of how much the boat weighs.

 

[shaun Moir]

@gonzo
apologies I misread your question I thought you said how it compares to what i was trying to explain
the simple answer is obviously steel is a lot heavier than HDPE which can be a positive and a negative in regard to floating problems

 

[gonzo]

Steel is denser. My question is about the weight of the hull compared to a steel construction.

 

[shaun Moir]

the weight of the whole boat without an engine etc was 6tonne

 

[gonzo]

Does that include all the interior, hardware, tankage, etc.?

 

[shaun Moir]

unfortunately, not this just includes it as a shell as we have not as of yet fully fitted this out

 

[gonzo]

That is quite heavy. How do you install an inboard engine and align it? Also, how do you deal with heat in engineroom from propulsion engine, generators, etc.?

 

[comfisherman]

Someone built an hdpe mini jet up here. Eventually tore the bottom off it and the drive got swapped over to an aluminum hull with a uhmw bottom.

Great idea for a barge or landing craft or kayak.

Let me phrase it another way, I utilize boats that have constant contact with gravel bottoms. I'm in the process of updating my fleet. As a consumer there is 0 percent chance I'd consider an hdpe hull. But it will definitely be used to clad high wear areas.

 

[gonzo]

I agree that it makes great chafe protection.

 

[Hawk73ku]

I realize this thread is old. If anyone is still watching, I am curious if a USA manufacturer of longboats exist? I didn't see that answer in the responses. I would like to have a wide beam built but I think I'd like closer to 20 foot wide and 65 foot long. This is wider than the canal boats of Europe but if there isn't a builder here in the USA a European wide beam may be my only option.

 

[fallguy]

Find a custom build shop. Must be someone east coast that would build to a plan.

 

[DCockey]

I do not know of anyone who regularly build UK or European style canal boats in North America. There are custom boat builders who could build such a boat but their price would probably be much greater than the UK and European builders who build the boats on a production basis.