Steel Hulls and Rust!

I am looking at an '83 Hilburn houseboat which is immaculate except about two feet either side of the keel which looks to me to have significant rust. The seller says the hull was double-plated ten years ago and there is no moisture but Dear Lord that rust freaks me all the way out. Some of the support ribs are rusted away from the bottom. Is double plating an acceptable repair for steel hulls? Would it be acceptable to not address the existing rust and possible structural issues? It is a freshwater boat and likely will never leave the slip but oh, the rust! Walk away or forget it and enjoy the boat which is gorgeous except to, you know, the rust!

 

I was roped in to assisting a colleague with a steel hulled houseboat restoration and we were regularly chasing leaks.

He should have sought advice prior to purchase as there is little regulation in recreational boating and the difference in condition between loved and unloved/unmaintained boats can be a gulf.

Because the worst corrosion is often hidden I would be extremely wary to the point of paying for a professional survey if you remain keen. We humans, generally burdened by emotions, make silly purchasing decisions at times because our heads are already full of pictures of enjoyable times or whatever else the purchase invokes, and often overlook the voice of reason that cries "RUN!"

 

You just described my wife and I!

 

The testing for these is to flood each bilge section; then pump out and flood the next or pay to travellift and leave in slings overnite.

For a boat you plan to travel; rust is bad. For a boat on the docks, a well running generator, lotsa bilge pumps, and shore power and xtra battery bank are all ways to mitigate a sudden leak disaster.

 

If the photo is a sample of what you got then it is bad...

I don't know what you mean by double platted but, on ships, doublers are only accepted as temporary repairs.

 

Double plating is a quick and dirty temporary repair. Unless the plating was drilled and plug welded, it is just floating from the edges. If it is in really good condition otherwise, price a proper repair and take that off the average selling price.

 

For a permanently docked boat be wary of sullage tanks etc in the hull compartments leaking into the surrounding water.