Hi, I am looking at a 32 Roamer here in Rochester, NY, and have ZERO experience with steel hulls. I have had several fiberglass and one wood boat. This boat is in fair condition, needs one engine, and some woodwork which I can handle. I couldn't find a hull number but I didn't look too far in the bilges. Can anyone point me to some info on these boats, and possibly some steel hull advice? It looks like there is at least one hole on the bottom of the transom. I would need LOTS of paint and varnish, and it looks like some wood (plywood) would need replacing, which I could do, but the steel hull kind of scares me. Can I patch this with a MIG welder? The price is right, but this is a big project and any help with info would be appreciated. I just love the look of the old CC's! Thanks, Marshall
Free Advice Many articles on steel hulls here: http://www.geocities.com/alloyed2sea/TechnicalForum.html Experts located here: http://www.metalboatsociety.com/ I tell everyone, no matter what kind of boat they are considering buying - get a survey, and go with the surveyor over the boat. They love to show you how much they know and what you are getting into. Make sure yours can and does perform audio-gauging the hull to determine steel plate thickness in those "tender" areas (where water collects inside the hull). Cheers! Eric