Concrete Boat

Bifflefan

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May 27, 2009
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2,933
Anyone ever hear of a boat being made of concrete?
I have heard tell of the Navy (or someone) trying to make one out of ice. I think the Mythbusters made one too.
Im sure its possible, if steel will float there has to a formula to make concrete float.

Sometimes things just pop into my head, I cant help it.
 

a70eliminator

Captain
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Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,688
Re: Concrete Boat

Sure absolutely, there was a concrete boat sitting in my neighborhood for years, about 125footer no trailer just sitting in a field, it was monumental at one time long gone now, but i saw it.
 

Bilgamesh

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Jun 16, 2009
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Re: Concrete Boat

There are remnants of a concrete ship on the shore of the beach near Santa Cruz Ca. I walked on the deck several years ago. I think the story was that it was used at a time in WWII when available metal was used for warships.

2_concrete_ship_large.jpg


Check this: http://www.concreteships.org/
 

Bifflefan

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May 27, 2009
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Re: Concrete Boat

There are remnants of a concrete ship on the shore of the beach near Santa Cruz Ca. I walked on the deck several years ago. I think the story was that it was used at a time in WWII when available metal was used for warships.

2_concrete_ship_large.jpg


Check this: http://www.concreteships.org/



Thats a really cool pic. and the link to Ferroboats is good reading too.
I guess it wasnt as dumb as it sounded after i said it. LOL:cool:
 

witenite0560

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Sep 6, 2008
Messages
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Re: Concrete Boat

They weren't really "boats", but they floated very well, till they were sunk... on purpose. I'm referring to the artificial harbor used for the D-day invasion. If memory serves me (no, I was not there. I'm not that chronologically experienced!) it was called "Mulberry". Basically, it was ship sized concrete blocks that were towed across the channel. Then sunk in a line roughly parallel to the beach to form an artificial breakwater and harbor. Unfortunately, there was a tremendous storm a few days after the invasion that displaced them. Incidentally, there were quite a few old ships that were used for the same purpose, at the same time. I believe all were refloated and deep sixed at a later date.
 

jakebrake

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Sep 22, 2008
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286
Re: Concrete Boat

there's the remains of one about 50 feet offshore at the cape may point. just look for diamond beach. you cannot miss this thing...seriously.

the water is ripping the crap out of it, so look it up online while it still exists.
 

smokeybear

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Jul 19, 2009
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Re: Concrete Boat

There was one being built in Jamesport Ny, We would pass it year after year in the marina in drydock when finally in the 80's it was completed and launched. We always laughed as kids saying who the heck would build a boat outa cement
 

rp23g7

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Jul 17, 2007
Messages
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Re: Concrete Boat

There are remnants of a concrete ship on the shore of the beach near Santa Cruz Ca. I walked on the deck several years ago. I think the story was that it was used at a time in WWII when available metal was used for warships.

2_concrete_ship_large.jpg


Check this: http://www.concreteships.org/

WOO HOO, the broken boat, Aptos. I think the story was it used to be a casino ship.

My brother in laws dad has a house about 600 feet up the beach on the bluff
 

rbh

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Re: Concrete Boat

There are a bunch sunk off Prince Rupert BC Canada as break waters, as well back in the 40s' the British asked the Canadian goverment to look into building aircraft carriers and battleships out off a combo of sawdust and ice.
IT Worked, the sawdust and ice combo could withstand huge rounds, unfortunately, freezeing large amounts of ice as as a vessel cost a crap load and was not continued.
rob
 

OldePharte

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Re: Concrete Boat

Many engineering schools participate in an annual concrete canoe building contest.
 

NoGin

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Re: Concrete Boat

Wouldn't that kind of be like wearing concrete shoes and going for a swim in the ocean with the fishes? :rolleyes:
 

abj87

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Aug 4, 2008
Messages
354
Re: Concrete Boat

ferocement boats sound like a good idea but, what happens when the chicken wire starts to rust... they start to crack and leak, and eventually complete failure.. I wouldn't step on foot aboard one.
 

mphy98

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Oct 20, 2008
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Re: Concrete Boat

When I lived in Tampa in the 70's there was a large cattamaran sailboat made of cement on the Hillsborough river. I remeber being amazed that it would even float, much less sail. It did both rather well.
 

RollingWanderer

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Jun 13, 2008
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Re: Concrete Boat

Many engineering schools participate in an annual concrete canoe building contest.


+1 on this...I actually got to sit in one made my Oregon State University a few summers ago when I was out there working on my master's. I also got to play with a ~12"x12"x1" "panel" made up from the mix they used to make the boat...it was impressively light and strong.

-RW
 

Woodnaut

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Re: Concrete Boat

There has been a concrete ship in Galveston Harbor as long as I can remember. (SS Selma)

selma1.jpg


Here's her history:

The Selma, a 7500 ton reinforced concrete tanker built in Mobile, Alabama, was launched on June 28, 1919. She was one of several concrete ships conceived and designed during World War 1. Construction was not completed until the war ended. She had a length 420 ft., a beam of 54 ft. and a draft with full cargo of 26 ft.. Her loaded displacement was 13,000 tons. This vessel marked the first use of shale aggregate expanded in rotary kilns for lightweight structural concrete. Steel was in short supply because of the war efforts and concrete was then proposed as a viable alternative material for use in ship building.

The Selma served several ports in the Gulf of Mexico quite successfully. Unfortunately she ran aground on the South jetty at Tampico, Mexico on May 11, 1920, creating a sizeable crack about 60 ft. long in her hull. She was towed into Galveston for repairs. Although the damage was repairable, the dry-dock crew lacked the knowledge and had no experience repairing a hull of such material. With no guarantee of proper restoration, the U.S. Government's Emergency Fleet Corporation decided not to gamble.

A channel 1,500 ft. long and 25 ft. deep was dug to a point just off Galveston near Pelican Island's eastern shoreline. After being stripped of all valuable equipment, on March 9, 1922 she was towed out to her final berth, and laid to rest. This left the hull partly submerged, although awash when seas were rough.

The Selma has over the years been object of many failed plans to convert her for use as a fishing pier, pleasure resort and oyster farm. Long a source of curiosity and local legend, she remains important to concrete and academic experts as an object of study of her construction and durability following decades of exposure to marine conditions.

The Selma is still quite visible today from the historic marker on Pelican Island and has become an interesting artifact to be viewed by the locals and visitor tourists alike. Although she will never sail again, she has been proudly resurrected by Daniels and other proud Texans who believe she lives on in spirit.
 

Willyclay

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Sep 8, 2006
Messages
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Re: Concrete Boat

The remains of one is beached in the harbor at Charleston, SC. I believe it was built during WWI. Will try get a picture and more facts to post.

EDIT: No pictures but the ship's name is "Archibald Butt" who I learned was the military aide-de-camp for Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and W.H. Taft. Known as Archie, he perished in the Titanic sinking. The only date I have found associated with the ship is 1929, but it is not clear what occurred.
 
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rjlipscomb

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Jun 2, 2009
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Re: Concrete Boat

Yes, we built one in school, well kinda, it was a concrete canoe. We had to design, build and race it against other engineering schools. I forget how many students had to ride/power it. but it was pretty big.

Concrete ships were built and used in WWII to help ship supplies to England and overwhelm the German U-boats.

From the Concrete Ships. Org:
"Just as steel had become scarce during the First World War, the Second World War was again consuming the country's steel resources. In 1942, the United States Maritime Commission contracted McCloskey and Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to build a new fleet of 24 concrete ships. Three decades of improvements in concrete technology made this new fleet lighter and stronger than its WWI predecessors.

The ships were constructed in Tampa, Florida starting in July of 1943. The ships were built at an incredible rate, with one being launched a month. The ships were named after pioneers in the science and development of concrete.

Two of the ships were sunk as blockships in the Allied invasion of Normandy. Nine more were sunk as breakwaters for a ferry landing at Kiptopeke, Virginia. Two are wharves in Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon and seven are still afloat in a giant breakwater on the Powell River in Canada."
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Concrete Boat

I've seen concrete sailboats in the 50' range. Floating.
Also there are several concrete ships sunk as a breakwater off of Kiptopeake Beach near Cape Charles, Va. They formed the ferry landing, and now are great fishing reefs. Some may say they're ugly hulks; others find them historical and biological points of interest. PLus it's a great oxymoron.
 
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