Hello, Thanks for both the Offshore and Seamanship: both were great reads. The website is always good for a bit of day dreaming as well as loads of info. Keep up the good stuff!
I’m currently looking into purchasing a smaller (27ft) Dutch classic to enhance sailing, tech and nav skills on coastal North Sea before following the big step dream.
I’ve located a Trintel 1a – in steel and a Trintella 1a in GRP, essentially the same design, both from around 1971. I’d go for steel for security; but the problem is that the steel version is about twice as heavy, still, I’m a bit hesitant about "old plastic"; I’ve read about osmosis, but have no idea what it looks like. Could you give me any ideas on what to look for?
Thanks very much, Eltjo
Hi Eltjo: Easy question first–any qualified surveyor can check the fiberglass laminate for osmosis and/or water intrusion. The odds are if the boat is that old, and does not have problems, you are safe in the future. And if it has problems, you will find them (or they were fixed in the past).
Regarding steel Vs fiberglass–in a boat of this size it is a tough comparison due to the weight issues, as you have pointed out. The extra weight compromises boat speed,and in some cases capsize resistance, unless the vertical center of gravity has been kept the same. My instinct would be to go for the fiberglass, assuming it is structurally sound.
Good luck–Steve
Posted by Steve Dashew (November 30, 1999)
