Hull fatigue

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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Greg Hickey

Hull fatigue

Post by Greg Hickey »

I am contemplating the purchase of a '74 Typhoon Weekender. Can the hull fiberglass stand up to 16 odd years of pounding around New England ?

Or, does hull fatigue (or any fatigue for that matter) finally catch up to such an old boat ?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.



gregoryhickey@mindspring.com
Neil Gordon

Re: Hull fatigue

Post by Neil Gordon »

>>I am contemplating the purchase of a '74 Typhoon Weekender. Can the hull fiberglass stand up to 16 odd years of pounding around New England ?<<

There's *old* and there's *classic*. Don't confuse the two. <g>

They've not yet found the endlife for well constructed fiberglass hulls. Pounding won't hurt the boat unless it pounds itself into the land.

Btw, I was comparing notes with the owner of a Hunter 280 in the yard yesterday. He was in a tizzy because the stand holding his stbd quarter up had dimpled the bottom of his boat. Is what he gets for buying a "clorox bottle" instead of a well constructed sailing vessel.

Buy the Typhoon, sail it for a decade or so, then sell it for more than you paid for it.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com
sloopjohnl

Re: Hull fatigue

Post by sloopjohnl »

there's plenty of fiberglass in these "old" hulls. as long as the water stays outside the boat they will sail on. be more concerned with the state of the hull out of the water than in. have a good cradle or well placed stands for winter storage.
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