The same is the case with a cruising boat. That means it will float deeper than its WL when heading out Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Boat Us Steel Methods Construction Steel Boat Construction Methods Us on a trip. One way a designer can compensate for this is to give steel boat construction methods us topsides some method flair.

Aside consteuction looking good, it makes the hull volume get wider each inch it settles, making it harder to sink it any. But as Steel Boat Construction Methods Us you load her, the harder she is to sink. Metjods not. It takes 3. The ONLY boats that are meant to float on a designed waterline are race boats.

In this case, especially with class raceboats, things steel boat construction methods us very carefully figured around Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us the WL. In fact small ones when at anchor will float bow down so steel boat construction methods us when mfthods is crew in the cockpit, the boat will float on its DWL designed water line.

I like a heavy box keel. That works well, but, I like a steel hull that has a box keel and stems like a wood boat. I think it looks better, and, it gives a solid base for the hull to sit on when hauled out or beached.

Some people even compartment it off and use it Steel Boat Construction Methods Us as a fresh water cooling resivoir. On sailboats and larger powerboats, the box keel will be quite deep near the stern, making it very difficult to reach inside to back weld the sides to the. This solved by making the sides in two halves, joined where the Steel Construction Methods Us Boat Construction Methods Boat Us Steel shaft pipe runs. I have seen one builder who erects one or two major bulkheads, then, sets up wood forms on the steel keel, hangs longitutionals to the forms, welds the plate on, then removes the forms.

Besides, the frames make building the interior easier because Steel Boat Construction Methods Us you have attachment points. And, if you come down hard on a rock, a big steel boat construction methods us will make it harder to dent in the hull. Flat bar frames are normally used in boats under 80 foot or so. The problem steel boat construction Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us methods us that flat bar, especially when you have smaller pieces or big boat frames, tends to be rather wobbly.

And, the top will be facing the hull sides which makes it impossible to sand blast underneath the top. Or use pre-blasted and primed material. Steel Steel Boat Construction Methods Us boat construction methods us course method you also have the option of using one of the new chemicals that are supposed to do what sand blasting does. An angle iron frame in big boats might mehhods sense because the angle frames are less floppy.

Right now is Steel Boat Construction Methods Us where you need to start thinking ahead to make things easier for. Steel is no different. Plan on these strips at least as far down as the waterline, or chine, which is normally past the waterline.

Use pressure treated wood for these strips. If you do Steel Boat Construction Methods Us it that way I suggest steel boat construction methods us the strips to the frames. Some people just use epoxy to hold the strips in but I would never rely on. Attach fairing strips on each side of the bulkhead.

They give a guide to how deep Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us you blow in the foam. Now. It seems better to weld the plate at the sheer and the chine, and let the steel boat construction methods us between those points bulge out as it may want to, then, steel boat construction methods us inside, let the Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us longs out to touch the plate. After you erect the frames and tack consrruction the longs, you do the plate. Somebody experienced constryction steel helping you is well worth a few hundred bucks.

Plating should constryction done with as long of plates as you can get; ideally two a side and bottom although three is more likely. After the frames, steel boat construction methods us the chine bar if used, and steel boat construction methods us sheer pipe are in, make a steel boat construction methods us pattern of the side and.

Along this line, you see many people who stand up the frames with the deck beams already attached to. If I was building, the appeal and simplicity of one weld at the chine would seem pretty appealing, I think. Lay the pattern on your plate, trace it, then Steel Boat Construction Methods Us burn it to shape.

One of my builders, an absolute ace welder who thought I was full of crap on this, tried it to prove me wrong. For some reason both wood and steel builders start plating or planking in the middle of the boat, which Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Methods Construction Us Steel Boat makes it a bitch to pull the plate into the bow and stern. This way, the plate flows like it wants.

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The seams appear to be "welded lap joints". I can see not rust from the inside below the water line. The bilge was completely dry. Are lap joints a big no-no in steel boat hull construction? The bow apperas to be double plated. I guess to break ice? Oh the boat is about 30 years old. Thanks, Charlie. CB Haws , Sep 17, This is Boat Steel Methods Construction Us Construction Steel Boat Us Methods Methods Steel Boat Us Construction an interesting question.

I have spent many years around steel vessel construction none of it on recreational vessels though , and have only seen butt joints used on shell plating. I dug out an old book called "A Guide to Sound Ship Structures" and they talk almost Boat Us Methods Construction Steel exclusively about butt welding sheel plate with one exception.

Does the vessel you are looking at have a fillet weld on either side of the lap? Given the uneven surface that a lap joint produces, how are the longitudinal and transverse structural members connected to the plating? Are the lap joints visible on the exterior of the hull, or is some filler compound used to fair it.

If a filler compound was used, I would wonder what the condition of the welds under that was. Sorry to answer your question with more questions, Steel Boat Construction Methods Us but I've never seen a lap joint used on shell plating with the possible exception of doubler plates being added.

Chapman , Sep 18, Let me give you some more questions. Is the boat somewhat conventional other than the lapwelds? I cannot remember which book I saw Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us it in, but I once saw a boat built in the lapstrake clinker style out of steel. This is a real rarity though. As Chapman mentioned, the joints would need to be continously welded inside and out. If not, interior wise, there would be moisture intrusion Boat Us Boat Ride Singapore Ltd Methods Construction Steel Boat Construction Steel Us Methods Steel Boat Construction Methods Us into the seams, bad news.

Have you guys ever seen a lapstrake hulled steel boat? Like I said above, I saw one once in a steelboatbuilding book. But other than possibly ice-work, I think a proper steel boats much more than adequate strength wise. The same would Steel Construction Us Boat Methods go for a repair where someone welded plate over a bad section instead of properly cutting the section out and insetting a new piece, a matter of fact, plate over plate would be much worse I would think. TGoz TGoz.

The overlap method was common for Construction Methods Boat Steel Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us a decade or so after the move from riveting joins to welding. The odd hull is still produced that way I've surveyed a few welded hulls built to the overlap method. Either alternate under over plating, or lapstrake or jogged seam where the overlap is heated Methods Steel Boat Construction Us Methods Construction Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Steel Boat Construction Methods Us with a torch and hammered over the lower plate till it fits snug.

In all types both the inner and the outer plate edge are then fully welded to the plate below. The boatyard saves a lot of time in fitting since you can have a Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us large tolerance on the edges. The problem is the internal void along the overlap and if the welds don't seal completely it corrodes. Generally it seems to be ok. When they do rust the rust puffs the seam up quite visibly. Repair is easy if you Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Construction Steel Boat Us Methods can get at the inside at the trouble spots.

All the best. Even then, such a practice tends to distort the plating and is often readily visible on the outside of the boat. In short, general practice is to NOT weld plating to transverse frames or Boat Methods Construction Steel Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us bulkheads even if such members touch or come near the plating.

The chine is the junction between the bottom and side on a v-bottom or flat bottom boat. On high-speed planing boats, this corner should be as crisp are possible, especially in the aft half of the Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us hull. The reason is that water should break free from the hull to reduce frictional drag at speed, and not climb up the topsides.

As shown before, Fig. Otherwise, a backing member is largely optional. If a special extrusion as discussed before is available, these are Steel Us Methods Boat Construction Steel Boat Construction Methods Us acceptable. Side and bottom plating fit into the slots which are then welded continuously. From an appearance standpoint, a continuous inside weld looks best. However, such extrusions are often proprietary items or otherwise prohibitive in cost, and a problem to buy and ship in small quantities.

Completing Steel Boat Construction Methods Us the ends of such extrusions where they join to transom and stem areas is also not always easy for the builder making a single boat. However, if the protruding flange is too pronounced, there may be a tendency to hang up on rocks in certain boats such Steel Boat Construction Methods Us as whitewater boats, or snag debris and catch pilings in other types of boats depending on their use.

Otherwise, round bar bends around frames easily and gives a well-defined boundary to work to when fitting side and bottom plates. A temporary chine backing member may help in this regard. In this case the bottom is fitted first and cut with care along the chine line a temporary backing member may aid in fitting. Then topsides are installed, letting the edge overhang the junction a distance as required to form the spray deflector flat.Boat Steel Construction Us Methods Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us

While a good design, this configuration also takes care to assure fair lines. As mentioned, on the modern aluminum hull, most plating is reinforced by longitudinals. While a good set of plans will specify what to use for these members, this does not necessarily rule out Steel Boat Construction Methods Us another alternative if what is specified is not available.

These are available in many sizes, often in the form of extrusions with radiused edges that facilitate welding, or you can cut your own from plate. Other stiffeners are often extruded shapes that can get costly and may Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Boat Us Steel Construction Methods not be as readily available in the sizes needed. When installing longitudinals, bending can present problems depending on curvature and member type. One approach some builders take to reduce bending effort is to gore members along their flanges as in Fig.

This idea is sound, but Steel Construction Methods Boat Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us the execution takes care to assure fair curves. Good practice also calls for radiusing the corners at the gores slightly to minimize hard spots against the plating. Avoid over-welding, and completely around the ends of each cut. This allows a strong fillet weld on both sides of Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Methods Construction Steel Us Boat Steel Boat Construction Methods Us the junction the inside weld can be intermittent. A simple corner junction here as in Fig. In fact, some builders extend the bottom plating considerably past the transom on faster planing hulls to form integral non-adjustable trim tabs.

These can later be bent down slightly if Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us required for best performance and then bracketed to the transom once an optimum position has been found. Transom thickness technically need be no more than that of the side or bottom plating.

Additional thickness may be required � at least in the area of the cut-out � either through the use of doublers or thick inserts. A thicker insert is preferable at a cutout to avoid the need to seal joints between doublers by welding.

Where thin plating meets thicker plating, bevel the thicker edge at a slope equal to at least three Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Construction Boat Methods Steel Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us times the thickness of the thinner plate see Fig. The insert should have rounded corners rather than being a hard square or rectangular shape.

There is an on-going debate as to whether welded aluminum boats should be made as light as possible via light plating and framing Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us but with more of it , or with heavier plating using minimal but also somewhat huskier framing members. A boat built with light plating and framing is lighter in weight for more-economical operation, has a higher speed for a given power, is more-easily trailered, has greater payload, Boat Us Construction Steel Methods Steel Boat Us Methods Construction and because it has less material, will cost less.

First, there is a natural tendency among builders in any material to over-build and second-guess the designer, even when a boat uses the heavier plating approach initially. The typical idea is that if so much is good, then a little more must be better. The result is that such boats weigh more than the designer predicted. You guessed it � NOT the builder. Much depends on the boat and its expected service.

For pleasure boats, I tend to favor lighter scantlings, but for more rigorous duty, heavier construction may be justified. However, rather than simply increase plating thickness, you might get similar results by adding a few more internal stiffening members instead. An appealing possibility on metal boats is tanks integral with the hull, which is acceptable for diesel fuel but Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us not gasoline. Because the hull shell plating provides one or more of the tank sides, and internal tank members can double as hull stiffening members, such tanks can save material and add capacity without taking up more room.

First, tanks might be of such a size Boat Us Methods Steel Construction or located in such a position that welding tight seams all around the perimeter is difficult if not impractical. Second, because full welds are required, there is a greater chance of heat buildup and ultimate hull plating distortion. Finally, special consideration must be given at the intersections Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us of tank ends, hull stiffening members, and internal tank baffles when required. Attempting to fit and weld tank ends tightly around stiffeners that pass through the tank is tedious if not impossible.

Instead, hull stiffeners should stop at tank ends, with similar members cut and fitted inside, Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Methods Us Construction Steel Boat Steel Boat Construction Methods Us or with internal baffles Cheap Commercial Fishing Boats For Sale 06 installed in line with such stiffeners as substitutes and to maintain continuity.

Conversely separate tanks built outside the hull are physically easier to manipulate during assembly and welding, easier to test and assure integrity, easier to repair or replace, and not as Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Methods Construction Us Steel Boat likely to suffer damage in a collision. Aluminum tank thickness is sometimes shown as a function of tank capacity such as the following:. To 50 Gals:. However, for practical purposes, most tanks should be at least.

Thicker tanks also require less stiffening, and since plating material is Steel Boat Construction Methods Us usually suitable, no special thinner stock need be ordered as might be implied from the above list.

Also provide striker plates or doublers on the bottom under sounding tubes if being used to prevent damage to the inside of the tank. All tank tops should be Boat Us Construction Methods Steel canted, sloped, or cambered so condensation or moisture will drain off the tops. Tanks can be made out of the same material used for the hull plating , , etc.

Special computer-aided design programs coupled with numerically-controlled cutting equipment have made it possible to literally pre-cut all the components Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Construction Methods Boat Steel Us of a metal boat to precise size and shape in kit form ready for final welding assembly. However, for successful results, a skilled boat designer familiar with the material and fabrication techniques, along with the ability to operate the software to within exacting tolerances is a Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us prerequisite.

Otherwise, as they say, a miss can be as good as a mile. The advantage of the "Folded Plate" method is that with an accurately pre-planned outline that's cut out of plate, the entire hull plating can first be laid out flat - port and Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us starboard - welded where necessary to create the sizes and shapes required, then it's all pulled together and stitched into place.

Using this method, once the plate shapes have been determined, the hull plating can be erected in a very short time - often in Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Methods Construction Steel Boat Us a matter of days. Of course this looks impressive!

It actually is impressive! Naturally this concept has captured the imagination of the amateur metal boat building community, thus a possibly significant contingent among potential owner-builders. Try it with paper cutouts and you will be immediately convinced. You Steel Boat Construction Methods Us can achieve a few minor variations and still get shapes that will fold together, but regional subtleties of hull form are just not possible. If a different type of hull form is desired, then quite a lot of trial and error time must be spent - usually by making actual trial cutouts and seeing if they will fit together in an attempt to discover a totally flat plate layout that will provide the intended shape when folded together.

This is not only a severe limitation on the designer - it also restricts the Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us builder who may as a result have only one basic model to offer. In other words, variations to the hull shape are difficult and time consuming to create, so the vessels are limited to being either larger or smaller, fatter or more slender, taller or shorter, Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Boat Methods Construction Us Steel Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us having more or less sheer, yet essentially the same in their general shape and appearance.

Further, it must be kept in mind that just as with the "pre-cut-plate" method, the "Folded-Plate" or Origami method is generally only applicable to the hull plating itself, and not to the Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us keel, rudder, deck, superstructure, nor to the equipment, rig, joinery, systems, etc.

In other words, though it should be accomplished as efficiently as possible, erecting the plating is only a small part of building the hull, and a very small part of the whole picture. As a result of these factors, I have not been tempted to pursue the Origami approach in my design work.

Except for the initial "wow" factor, which holds a certain well deserved appeal among amateur boat builders, I don't see much advantage to it, especially in a Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us professional boat building context. In particular, this is so due to the extreme restriction on the variety of possible hull shapes that can be offered.

The result is that the hull shapes become extremely alike, therefore ordinary and uninteresting. Ask any of the proponents of the Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Origami method how many truly "different" hull shapes they have been able to design or build using that approach hulls which are not simply stretched or squished versions of the same thing , and I believe you'll immediately see what I mean. As an extremely viable alternative, Steel Boat Construction Methods Us one can just as easily make use of the " pre-cut-plate " approach and have considerably more freedom with subtleties of hull form.

If one is able to begin with a blank sheet, in other words if one is able to create a new custom yacht design, it becomes Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Methods Us Boat Construction Steel Boat Construction Methods Us possible to choose between a frame-first vs. In this case, the first task in the design cycle belongs to the owner, and that is to find a designer who can bring about the owner's vision and purpose for the vessel they have in mind. Then Boat Construction Steel Methods Us once the vessel has been designed, to follow through during the construction of the vessel, first to connect the owner with a builder who is suited to the task, and then to follow through during construction to assure that what has been designed gets built as planned.

Occasionally this order of events gets turned around, and the owner first finds a suitable builder, then together they forage for a design that the owner likes and that the builder wants to build.

While this can often result in great success, it can also result Steel Boat Construction Methods Boat Excursion From Miami To Bahamas Quiz Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us in great compromise. However if the compromise is not too great, and the cost is attractive, then a deal may be struck that is satisfying to all involved. More often than not though, the builder or the owner will want to introduce changes to the design. Subtle Steel Boat Construction Methods Us variations to the interior, usually introduced by the owner, are to be expected and are usually not of any consequence.

Major changes to the layout that involve changes to the structure, or that involve relocating tanks, bulkheads, engines, major machinery, masts, etc. However, any of these Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us kinds of changes must necessarily involve the designer. Or if a stock design is entirely suitable as is, or if minor changes are all that's needed, then certainly the designer will be able to "customize" that design to suit - it is all part of a Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us designer's usual routine.

What is not often realized is that collectively, these changes can quickly eliminate any possible advantage to having selected a stock design. At this point, it can become advantageous to begin from a blank sheet - even if it is largely based Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us on a prior design. All the building methods mentioned above can be made to satisfy the structural requirements of the ABS or other rules - with the exception of the so-called "frameless" building method, which cannot.

In considering any existing design, one should inquire as to whether Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us the structure has been designed according to the standards of one or more of the yacht classification societies. I also consult applicable portions of the German Lloyd's rule and other classification society rules such as Lloyd's Register wherever they may be appropriate, such as Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Boat Construction Steel Methods Us for spars and rigging or for wooden structures, etc.

Aside from the structure, when inquiring about any stock design or new custom design it will be prudent to inquire about the stability compliance of the vessel being considered.

Even though there are no legally imposed stability standards Boat Methods Construction Steel Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us for pleasure craft built and registered in the US, I feel this is quite important, therefore the EU-RCD is the base-line standard that I use. These standards are outlined within ISO for motor yachts and in ISO for sailing yachts, and are applicable to recreational craft Steel Boat Construction Methods Us private yachts up to 25 meters 79 feet overall length.

You can read about my rationale for use of these standards, what they mean, and how they apply by reviewing our various articles related to " Boat Design " on the Articles web page. In terms of safety equipment, Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us while I very much advocate the use of the ABYC guidelines for safety and systems, there are a few specific areas where I disagree with the ABYC recommendations. Mainly this is limited to those chapters where the ABYC guidelines are at present inadequately developed and are Construction Steel Methods Us Boat rapidly changing - in particular with regard to bonding and electrical isolation on metal vessels.

These matters are thoroughly addressed in the Vessel Specification which accompanies each of my designs, often amounting to some 50 to 80 pages..!

A number of my designs are fully developable, and Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Boat Construction Methods Us Steel Us Construction Methods Boat Steel Boat Construction Methods Us are thus directly adaptable to the "pre-cut plate-first" approach, in particular if NC cutting were to be employed. Examples that come to mind are the 36' ketch Grace and her larger sisters: the 42' schooner Highland Lass and the 42' ketch Zephyr , which have fully developable hulls.