Workboat

Maintenance

Just how good are steel light craft?

During the past five years there has been an increase in the number of steel light craft (small tugs, trawlers, workboats, etc.) built in Australia. How good are they? Our marine engine specialist takes a look at them.

An Australian naval architect has produced a table showing the relative strengths of vessels built of materials other than timber, and steel is shown to be by far the strongest—up to 100 per cent, stronger in some cases.

Good examples of strong steel craft have been built by semi-amateurs in Australia from designs supplied by architects.

Steel craft have many safety features. For instance, they are not inflammable, they can be fitted easily with water-tight bulkheads, they are almost immune to water leaks and oil leaks are seen immediatelv and cannot soak into the hull as with timber.

Engine installation is straight forward. The engine bearers are easy to weld in and the fitting of silent block mountings is simple. The stern tube and rudder tube (both can be adjustable) can be welded in dur ing the installation.

Water tanks

Fuel tanks are usually welded in using the run of the bilge alongside the engine bearers, though tanks of this type are not recommended if petrol engines are installed. Fresh water tanks can also be built in for general purpose, but stainless steel tanks should be used for drinking water.

Exhaust arrangements are simple and safe, as no pipes are near any timber. Any oil in the bilge is easy to remove. General bilge pumping arrangements are better than for

timber craft and the bulk heading allows for more certain pumping.

Accommodation is little different from timber craft. Steel beams and floor bearers will be used. Floors, bunks, tables, lockers, seating, etc., will be made of selected timbers.

Most steel vessels have their cabins and wheelhouse accommodation in sulated with materials that are, in most cases, non-inflammable.

Deck covering

Decks can be treated with various forms of covering some non-slip, some of asphalt base and some of cork compound.

Painting is necessary as with all craft. Naturally, no caulking is re quired and there is no worry about borers or dry rot. Very little scrap ping is necessary, although scrubbing down is required.

The epoxy resinous compound paints are ideal for the underwater paintings of steel craft. Topside paint ing can be as with any craft—pre ferably using an anti-erosive type of paint. Underwater repairs are no problem— most places in the Islands have an electric welding set, and a steel patch is not hard to weld on. q For more information on work boats, write to: The Editor, Practical Planter Section, Pacific Islands Monthly, GPO Box 3408,

Sydney, NSW, 2001.