I am looking to buy a houseboat and would like to know which is the best hull, steel, aluminum or fiberglass?

Question

I am looking to buy a houseboat and would like to know which is the best hull, steel, aluminum or fiberglass?

Answer 1

Fiberglass as it doesn't have a electrolyze problem>Easy to maintain & repair> And cost less>

Answer 2

Each material has it’s advantages.  I prefer aluminum due to it’s strength, weight savings, ease of repair, and extremely low maintenance.

Answer 3

I would go with the fiberglass as steel can rust if not properly maintained. As mentioned above osmoses can effect fiberglass but if it is slipped regularly it is not a problem as teh shipwrights that clean polish and anti fowl it should be able to pick up an gell coat problems and fix them up. Aluminum is also good but i am a sailor so personally prefer glass. Also i think the glass stays cooler inside the boat than wither of the metals

Answer 4

If it was me I would choose between steel and aluminum. I understand that with fiberglass if the jellcoat gets damaged, over a period of time water seeps into the fibers making the hull heavier. There is a proper name for this action but I can never remember it.

I would say aluminum would be stronger for the same guage and lighter.

Steel needs painting more often.

Just a couple of things to check out or ponder over.

Answer 5

It depends on the quality of construction.  No offense intended but,  house boat builders are not noted for top quality protection of metal hulls.  If you are going to be in salt water I would recommend glass.  If fresh water only, steel due to strength and ease of repair...cut out bad spot and weld new piece in.  Either way REDO the electrical and bonding system to protect from corrosion.

Answer 6

landfall has a good answer....to the other guy.....the process is called osmosis, where water seeps into the glass fibers over time and increases the weight of the boat......you see this with older glass boats, esp Boston Whalers..they have to be hauled out, lots of little holes drilled and wait a few months for the water to evaporate.....in bad cases you have to grind LOTS of 3 x 5 divots in th hull to get rid of bad glass that has  de-laminated......

having said that........RUST NEVER SLEEPS! If you like grinding and sanding and painting, yes, get steel...

and aluminum, and to a lesser extend steel will be killed in salt water by stray electric currents.....either a bad bonding system on your boat, or a bad bonding system on the neighbors, or as frequently happens, in the marina.....so, aside form the osmosis problem, which can be taken care of by a good epoxy coating on the bottom, Id go with glass