Hello -- I am a Marine Surveyor doing a 1967 41'Roamer Regal. We will be conducting an ultrasound audiogauge of the steel to determine it condition and amount of wastage. The question I have, does someone know the original gauge of steel used in the Regal 41's? Was it anything particular, metallurgically or just your basic mild rolled steel plate? Thank you!
41 Steel Guage 41 steel is 11 guage bottom 12 guage sides I assume it is the same as the 38 as the aluminum is the same on the 41. I think they stopped making the 41 in steel in 68, but still made it in steel on the 38's until 70. This data comes from the 1969 Roamer catalogue. Homer
Thank you Homer! But it's odd that the side steel is thicker than the hull bottom -- which is just the opposite of most steel work boats. Anyway, I'm sure they had their reasons, because they obviously built very good hulls. Thanks again! Ed
Did Cris Craft originally use much body filler on the sides of the hull to make the finish look smoother, or did they pretty much just paint the steel? Welds and seems are much more apparent below the water line than above the water line on my 1958 28-footer. I want to strip the hull down to bare steel. I wonder how much putty I can expect to encounter above the water line, and I wonder if I can paint the steel hull directly, or if I am going to have to redo a bunch of body work to maintain the hull's smooth, yet sometimes wavy appearance?
Biodon: Yes, 11 gauge is thicker than 12 gauge -- duh, I know that! Only had one cup of coffee this morn. Regarding the 'Nutty-Putty', in my surveying of Roamers, I haven't come across much steel filler, overall. The stuff that I have seen has usually been applied by some subsequent private owner after a repair. At any rate, there shouldn't be any below the waterline.
I thought the same as well, but it did say that... you can always call Jim Wick to confirm he knows all as he was at the plant. Perhaps catalogue had misprint?
I guess they built the older 35 footers a little stronger. My sides are 11 gauge and the bottom is 10 gauge in the aft and 3/16" forward.
Could be, but one must also consider the rib spacing and coatings to preserve. I know steel is stronger, but it must be very well protected. Mine is aluminum which I prefer, but no question about steel being stronger.
Steel Strength There not as much strength difference as people think. Steel and Aluminum have practically the same "yield" strength, "ultimate" is way in favor of steel but the "yield" strength is used in calculations. Designed properly the aluminum boat will perform better under all but the most brutal conditions. If the Steel is 2.64 times heavier than aluminum and they have the same yield strength then aluminum is stronger when viewed pound vs. pound.
