I was lucky enough to Survey this Steel Dutch De Ruiter Motorsailer today at Brooms Marine Services. Built Circa 1981, powered by a Ford Lehman 120hp diesel engine with 6 berths. A quality blue water yacht!!
Surveyors comments generally Surveying steel vessels:
Most plate and frame material I inspect on steel yachts is low carbon mild steel and occasionally I will see core-ten steel. The welding techniques differ as mild steel cannot be welded hot and fast and core-ten cannot be continually welded as it can distort. So you will see more starts and stops and this type is much more difficult to weld. I use a welder’s chipping hammer often in my inspections to explore corrosion. Don’t be surprised if you happen to go through on older vessel, and be sure to have written permission from owners before and after to prevent some costly embarrassment. A metal hull inspector needs to know where to look and what to look for. You need to know how to identify three basic problems: deterioration, defects and damage. Deterioration is the largest single defect you will have to identify. This inherent problem is due more often than not to age. The older the vessel is, the more likely you are going to see this type of deterioration, be it rust or pitting. The next largest problem is lack of proper maintenance. The largest inherent problem with steel yacht construction, be they auxiliary sail or power, is the fact that most are not constructed with maintenance in mind. Cabin soles, ceilings, and insulation cover so much of a vessel’s structure and totally restrict internal inspections in many areas. Many steel yachts have integrated tanks--water, fuel or waste--and most do not have inspection plates to allow entry and most of your inspections will not involve entry. Hull defects are often easier to identify because they may be more readily evident. Plate deformation is reflective in nature. If you have plating deformation, you should suspect and look for reflective internal framing defects. Severe point loading from impact or hard grounding can cause cracking or tearing of the plate, frames or welds. A strong light and a keen eye are your best weapons here.
Most plate and frame material I inspect on steel yachts is low carbon mild steel and occasionally I will see core-ten steel. The welding techniques differ as mild steel cannot be welded hot and fast and core-ten cannot be continually welded as it can distort. So you will see more starts and stops and this type is much more difficult to weld. I use a welder’s chipping hammer often in my inspections to explore corrosion. Don’t be surprised if you happen to go through on older vessel, and be sure to have written permission from owners before and after to prevent some costly embarrassment. A metal hull inspector needs to know where to look and what to look for. You need to know how to identify three basic problems: deterioration, defects and damage. Deterioration is the largest single defect you will have to identify. This inherent problem is due more often than not to age. The older the vessel is, the more likely you are going to see this type of deterioration, be it rust or pitting. The next largest problem is lack of proper maintenance. The largest inherent problem with steel yacht construction, be they auxiliary sail or power, is the fact that most are not constructed with maintenance in mind. Cabin soles, ceilings, and insulation cover so much of a vessel’s structure and totally restrict internal inspections in many areas. Many steel yachts have integrated tanks--water, fuel or waste--and most do not have inspection plates to allow entry and most of your inspections will not involve entry. Hull defects are often easier to identify because they may be more readily evident. Plate deformation is reflective in nature. If you have plating deformation, you should suspect and look for reflective internal framing defects. Severe point loading from impact or hard grounding can cause cracking or tearing of the plate, frames or welds. A strong light and a keen eye are your best weapons here.
