1975 springer 4mm hull

[Dar Kuma]

I just had this boat surveyed and the lowest point is 3.5 mm

 

Did they use only 4mm on older springers.

 

thanks in advance

[junior]

I don't think they 'only' used 4mm steel, but i have seen quite a few posts on here previously stating that many were built with 4-6mm steel when new.

[Proper Job]

They were often what came to hand at the time

[Dar Kuma]

I know a little bit about springers, but not the older class

 

thanks PJ

Edited November 18, 2014 by Dar Kuma

[by'eck]

Doubt the base plate would have been originally less than 6 mm.

[Alan de Enfield]

Before you buy it (if you intend to so so) phone around the Insurance companies.

 

Apparently some are reluctant to insure Springers, and some will not insure a boat with less than 4mm thickness.

 

The Springer WaterBugs were bult with metal as thin as 3.75mm.

Other models could be 4mm, 5mm or 6mm depending on what Gas Manometers, or other plate steel was available at the time.

[Dar Kuma]

will do Alan

[John V]

Did the survey not state the probable thickness of the build? As Alan has said the smaller ones were built of thin plate.

[Dar Kuma]

yes, read the topic title

[Boat&Bikes]

What was the maximum plate reading? If not above 4 mm then I would guess it was built of 4mm.

 

Ian.

 

Edit to add OOPS.

Edited November 18, 2014 by ianali

[John V]

Then in that case I would say that it's in pretty good nick for it's age.......

[Proper Job]

Then in that case I would say that it's in pretty good nick for it's age.......

 

A lot of them are

[Tony Dunkley]

I just had this boat surveyed and the lowest point is 3.5 mm

 

Did they use only 4mm on older springers.

 

thanks in advance

 

I don't know what they used, but the maximum thickness reading in the Survey Report is going to answer that question for you. There will be areas of the shell plating, for instance a few inches above the normal waterline where the plating will be neither worn nor corroded.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Tony Dunkley

[Keeping Up]

Was steel thickness metric then, or would it have been an imperial thickness especially if it was reclaimed gasometer plate as many early ones were?

[Proper Job]

4.6mm for 3/16" or 6mm for 1/4"

[Alan de Enfield]

A nominal 1/8th would be 3.2mm but "general purpose plate" is normally oversize, and generally sold by weight.

I have been led to believe that Springer "Bugs" were built with 1/8th plate that usually measured 3.75mm.

 

My boat bottom was built with 12mm steel, when it was surveyed a few years ago it was found (in most places) to be 13mm+ with the mimnimum measured at 12.5mm

Edited November 18, 2014 by Alan de Enfield

[Keeping Up]

My boat also was built with a 12mm base plate, but I was told that when Shelton Steelworks supplied it (1991) they were still actually working to a nominal 1/2"

[Neil2]

With the early Springers, and the Waterbugs, they didn't use steel any thicker than it had to be so it could well be 4mm and if it has only lost 0.5mm in 40 years that's pretty good steel isn't it.

 

The Waterbug I had was definitely made with 3mm plate, but I recall a conversation with "Tony Tugboats" the boat transporter who was perplexed why some waterbugs were easy to tow whereas others nearly collapsed the trailer. So Alan could well be right about a heavier guage being used, on some boats at least.

 

With an elderly Springer all that really matters is pitting, and the state of the welds.

[Athy]

With the early Springers, and the Waterbugs, they didn't use steel any thicker than it had to be so it could well be 4mm and if it has only lost 0.5mm in 40 years that's pretty good steel isn't it.

 

The Waterbug I had was definitely made with 3mm plate, but I recall a conversation with "Tony Tugboats" the boat transporter who was perplexed why some waterbugs were easy to tow whereas others nearly collapsed the trailer. So Alan could well be right about a heavier guage being used, on some boats at least.

 

 

Yes indeed - I was told this by a former Springer owner who had had his boat built new. He had opted to pay a higher price for thicker steel, so I guess this option was available on various Springer models.

[alan_fincher]

Doubt the base plate would have been originally less than 6 mm.

 

Well being pedantic, they don't have a "base plate" in the conventional sense, being V bottomed.

 

Certainly many of the shorter Springers (in particular) are unlikely to have contained steel as thick as 6mm / 1/4", I think, but equally it has been established in many threads like this that many of the different styles they built did on occasions contain something thicker. I have a lingering memory that "Starry's" "Springy" is thicker than other similar boats - but I may just be inventing that, I admit!

[Zig Zag]

I looked at '88 Waterbug. So as already stated was made with 3mm and in '09 it had a survey and was reading 3mm.

 

Obviously not overplated.

[MtB]

 

Well being pedantic, they don't have a "base plate" in the conventional sense, being V bottomed.

 

Certainly many of the shorter Springers (in particular) are unlikely to have contained steel as thick as 6mm / 1/4", I think, but equally it has been established in many threads like this that many of the different styles they built did on occasions contain something thicker. I have a lingering memory that "Starry's" "Springy" is thicker than other similar boats - but I may just be inventing that, I admit!

 

Springy's hull was 5mm thick when I measured the core of the hole I drilled through it

 

That included the paint, mind!

 

 

MtB

 

 

 

(Eidt to add, I was bloody nervous as I drilled from the inside outwards, and pleased to have found I measured right on breaking through, lol! DON'T tell Starry!)

Edited November 18, 2014 by Mike the Boilerman

[MaryP]

 

Well being pedantic, they don't have a "base plate" in the conventional sense, being V bottomed.

 

 

Agreed. Mine (Waterbug) has a keel of about 6 inches wide for about 3/4 of it's length, but I wouldn't want to try to balance the boat on it when out of the water! The hull is generally V shaped.

[Starcoaster]

 

Springy's hull was 5mm thick when I measured the core of the hole I drilled through it

 

That included the paint, mind!

 

 

MtB

 

 

 

(Eidt to add, I was bloody nervous as I drilled from the inside outwards, and pleased to have found I measured right on breaking through, lol! DON'T tell Starry!)

 

OI! Yes I still have my piece of Springy hull, 5.4mm I believe! Springy is in very good nick for his age (well, the prior owner did love him enough to die on him, I suppose...) but despite my survey, until I held that piece of metal in my hand, I didn't really "get" it.

[J R ALSOP]

We had a early Springer at Bridgewater Boats, the bow and stern were 1/4" and the "straight" sides were 3/16". Some of the earlier ones with a ply top were 3/16" and 1/8".