To overplate or not to overplate?

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Tetlow619 said:

We have a 30 year old 50ft springer.

 

That would make the build date 1992, and I think Sam Springer packed it in some years before that. Not that it matters especially. Just an observation.

 

 

2 hours ago, Tetlow619 said:

The surveyor started a hammer test and stopped within 10mins as he was scared he was going to put a hole in the Hull.

 

This seems odd. I'd be wanting a second opinion. Surveyors generally use an ultrasonic thickness tester not a hammer. I'm wondering how competent and professional a surveyor this chap really was, to have bailed out on the survey rather than get the thickness tester out, take some thickness measurements and charge for a proper survey and condition report. Could it be that he didn't own one?

 

Given that some Springers were built from tin foil anyway, I'm wondering just how much corrosion yours has, really. 

 

 

 

 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

21 minutes ago, Tetlow619 said:

 

Yeah that's the way I'm thinking about it, patch one area then another will need doing in the near future.

Looks like Streethay is the way to go, thank you! 

Yeah I'm learning this the hard way .... should have bought a campervan 😆

Thank you for the advice! 

 

Thank you Tracy 🙏🏻 

Streethay are plating mine at the moment. They’re a very busy yard, so get in there quick. 
Not the cheapest yard and not the most expensive yard.  
The quality of work done for me has been excellent. 

 

Something to learn: nothing happens quickly in canal world. 
 

Take into account Streethay have no crane, they hire in. So you may have to wait until there’s a change over of boats to be lifted out and then wait to be lifted back in again. 

You may struggle to get a quote from them without them seeing the boat out of the water. Which I take as a good sign. 
 

 

[David Mack]

4 minutes ago, MtB said:

Surveyors generally use an ultrasonic thickness tester not a hammer.

A hammer is a good tool to use alongside ultrasonic thickness measurement. Hit the hull with a hammer and a clear ringing sound suggests good steel, a dull thud suggests plate that has rotted and may be more rust than steel.

1 hour ago, Movin' on said:

Contact a couple of midlands yards just to give yourself a benchmark

 

Streethay Wharf have made overplating springers a bit of a specialism (as have others) and should be able to give you a pretty decent quote over the phone as will Lime Farm - IMHO £10k is only £200/ft so isn't bad

Another recommendation given previously on here is Kedian Engineering.

[Tetlow619]

11 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

That would make the build date 1992, and I think Sam Springer packed it in some years before that. Not that it matters especially. Just an observation.

 

 

 

This seems odd. I'd be wanting a second opinion. Surveyors generally use an ultrasonic thickness tester not a hammer. I'm wondering how competent and professional a surveyor this chap really was, to have bailed out on the survey rather than get the thickness tester out, take some thickness measurements and charge for a proper survey and condition report. Could it be that he didn't own one?

 

Given that some Springers were built from tin foil anyway, I'm wondering just how much corrosion yours has, really. 

 

 

 

 

Ah now that's some food for thought, I was aware of the ultrasonic test, the surveyor was recommended but is now sounding a bit odd! Thanks for the info 

13 minutes ago, Goliath said:

Streethay are plating mine at the moment. They’re a very busy yard, so get in there quick. 
Not the cheapest yard and not the most expensive yard.  
The quality of work done for me has been excellent. 

 

Something to learn: nothing happens quickly in canal world. 
 

Take into account Streethay have no crane, they hire in. So you may have to wait until there’s a change over of boats to be lifted out and then wait to be lifted back in again. 

You may struggle to get a quote from them without them seeing the boat out of the water. Which I take as a good sign. 
 

 

Ah okay, yes I've learnt that bit already! 

Okay that's good to know!

Looks like a plan will need to be put together as we are currently in West London 

[Mad Harold]

15 minutes ago, Tetlow619 said:

Ah now that's some food for thought, I was aware of the ultrasonic test, the surveyor was recommended but is now sounding a bit odd! Thanks for the info 

Ah okay, yes I've learnt that bit already! 

Okay that's good to know!

Looks like a plan will need to be put together as we are currently in West London 

You could paint the inside " London White" and put it on Facebook or E Bay for sale.😰

[Tetlow619]

1 minute ago, Mad Harold said:

You could paint the inside " London White" and put it on Facebook or E Bay for sale.😰

What's London White? 

[Tony Brooks]

9 minutes ago, Tetlow619 said:

What's London White? 

 

It is what fly by night refurbishers seem to do.  Over-paint all the woodwork on an old wreck in white and sell it to an unsuspecting wannabe London live-aboard.

[Tetlow619]

Ah I see, thanks for the tip 😉

[Slow and Steady]

3 hours ago, Tetlow619 said:

Ah I see, thanks for the tip 😉

Oops, does that describe your boat?

Good for you if you fix it rather than palm it off on someone else.

[Tetlow619]

42 minutes ago, Slow and Steady said:

Oops, does that describe your boat?

Good for you if you fix it rather than palm it off on someone else.

 

No I'm only messing around! I'll get her fixed up, wouldn't do that to someone else, wasn't brought up to be a **** 😄 

[Arthur Marshall]

Jason at Bollington Boats on the Macc replated a Springer a couple of years ago - they might be able to give you an idea of price.

My forty footer, flat bottomed, cost nine grand for bottom and sides at Stoke Boats.

Re the weight. I've now got three bottoms and two sides (or rather the boat has) and maybe it's an inch lower in the water. I did take most of the ballast out though.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Arthur Marshall

[MtB]

4 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Re the weight. I've now got three bottoms and two sides (or rather the boat has)

 

Don't all boats have two sides?

 

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

18 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Don't all boats have two sides?

 

 

 

inside and outside?

[MtB]

21 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

inside and outside?

 

That makes four!!

[Paul Charlton]

Boat builder I was speaking to the the other day tells me that steel is now £1200 a tonne rather than the £400 is was eighteen months ago.

[Arthur Marshall]

12 hours ago, MtB said:

 

That makes four!!

I must have eight then. No wonder it's a narrow boat.

[ditchcrawler]

6 hours ago, Paul Charlton said:

Boat builder I was speaking to the the other day tells me that steel is now £1200 a tonne rather than the £400 is was eighteen months ago.

 
This was last month

 

British Steel became the latest industrial group to warn of rising electricity costs as it increased prices for large sections of steel to more than £1,000 per tonne on Friday following the war in Ukraine.

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by ditchcrawler

[Tetlow619]

Thanks for the heads up! 

[PD1964]

 I think rolled steel plate is nearer £1500 if not more per tonne. Hard to get an accurate price as suppliers can’t quote as rising daily.

  What thickness plate would you over plate a 30+ year Springer with and is there an insurance minimum 2-4mm???

  

[Alan de Enfield]

39 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

 I think rolled steel plate is nearer £1500 if not more per tonne. Hard to get an accurate price as suppliers can’t quote as rising daily.

  What thickness plate would you over plate a 30+ year Springer with and is there an insurance minimum 2-4mm???

  

 

 

I believe that on overplating, the 'original' hull thickness is not included in the 'hull thickness' (if you know what I mean).

Therefore to meet the insurers requirement of a 4mm thick hull, it would have to be overplated in 4mm+ steel

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Just now, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

I believe that on overplating, the 'original' hull thickness is not included in the 'hull thickness' (if you know what I mean).

Therefore to meet the insurers requirement of a 4mm thick hull, it would have to be overplated in 4mm+ steel

For insurance I’m pretty sure that’s correct a minimum of 4mm for over plating or replating is required. 
And any existing plate shouldn’t be less than 2mm.