Asbestos Materials

[Seabrooke]

G'day all,

As this is the group with by far the most knowledge on Hatteras boats, I am wondering if Hatteras used any Asbestos materials in their boats through the 60's 70's and 80's.

Having served on warships built during the 50's, 60's and 70's I know they did have Asbestos lagging around pipes and steam drums etc., in some compartment insulation panels as well as in the vinyl tiles and so forth so it has me thinking about any Asbestos materials in Hatts.

The Admiral and I have a long term plan (in about 7 or 8 years from now) to come to the US for a couple of years, buy ourselves a 53 Classic MY or 48 LRC and cruise the Great Loop and beyond so it's a factor that would certainly play into the choice of boat.

 

[Salty Dame]

In the mid 70's I worked for a boat builder in Southern California and we would mix asbestos with resin into a putty and attach things to the hull or use it as filler. It was sold as Milled Fibers but it clearly said Asbestos on the bag. It became a light grey material with a rough surface texture. I'm not suggesting Hatteras used this but at least one builder did.

 

[Seabrooke]

Hi Salty Dame,

A while back, when I was on an Asbestos Removal training course, our instructor had a great comment.

"Asbestos is probably the best and most versatile building material ever developed. Unfortunately, it can also kill you!"

 

[Avenger]

Beware the vinyl floor tile.

 

[oscarvan]

Perfectly safe until disturbed. When in doubt, take small sample and send in for testing.

I suspect you may find some in the engine rooms.

 

[Seabrooke]

Beware the vinyl floor tile.

Cheers mate. I think the vinyl tiles are well known. I recall "air chiselling" a lot of them up on ships and replacing them with later versions.

I expect that most Hatts would have had them updated by now so I'm also wondering more about the other uses of Asbestos on board.

Particularly in 53 Motor Yachts and 48 LRC's

 

[Seabrooke]

Perfectly safe until disturbed. When in doubt, take small sample and send in for testing.

I suspect you may find some in the engine rooms.

Hi Oscar,

That's why I'm wondering about specifics.

If we know where it is we can be certain not to disturb it - or we can have it removed.

Not just for me but current owners that may not be aware.

 

[MikeP]

The flooring used was standard asbestos-backed flooring that was common for such use until the mid 80's. Our '80 53 MY used Armstrong Congoleum..same stuff that was used in homes. Removing it with a heat gun is easy and not particularly hazardous if you take your time and let the heat do the job of softening the adhesive. That way the flooring comes up with no shredding/tearing of the asbestos backing. In the galley I scored the flooring with a razor knife into squares (it was sheet flooring) and heated/pulled up one square at a time. Dust mask, of course! But there was literally no dust at all in the process.

Off the top of my head, the only other item I can think of on the boat that MIGHT contain asbestos are the original turbo exhaust blankets but I don't know either way.

 

[Seabrooke]

The flooring used was standard asbestos-backed flooring that was common for such use until the mid 80's. Our '80 53 MY used Armstrong Congoleum..same stuff that was used in homes. Removing it with a heat gun is easy and not particularly hazardous if you take your time and let the heat do the job of softening the adhesive. That way the flooring comes up with no shredding/tearing of the asbestos backing. In the galley I scored the flooring with a razor knife into squares (it was sheet flooring) and heated/pulled up one square at a time. Dust mask, of course! But there was literally no dust at all in the process.

Off the top of my head, the only other item I can think of on the boat that MIGHT contain asbestos are the original turbo exhaust blankets but I don't know either way.

Thanks Mike.

I'd think most original turbo blankets would have been replaced by now and if not they could stay until replacement time.

 

[krush]

Asbestos is the bestest! Well, until it is in your lungs. But other than that, the stuff is great.

 

[Seabrooke]

Asbestos is the bestest! Well, until it is in your lungs. But other than that, the stuff is great.

 

[rsmith]

There was a WHO or CDC report a while ago saying the danger was not what they originally thought. Even though every ambulance chaser commercials is for mesothelioma consider this. Up untill the late 80's all clutch and brake material was asbestos. Remember Raybestos? Anyone from the dawn of motor vehicles were dosed with asbestos when they stood on any street corner. Clouds of the stuff poured out of the wheel wells of trucke busses cars what ever. I don't see hordes of people keeling over in a asbestos apocalypse. In fact people are living longer. I grew up in Ambler Pa which was an asbestos mill town. keesby Maddison Johns Mannsville Nicolet were all asbestos product manufacturers in town. It constantly snowed asbestos fibers in town and everything close to the plants was covered in white powder.my parents are in their 80's and 90's as are most of my friends parents who I grew up with. Personally I think its all just blown out of proportion to make a bunch of lawyers rich.

 

[krush]

I think it's been overblown too. And now they are going after fiberglass insulation/dust. There is so much asbestos out there and it's not all contained, but people don't keel over each day!

More dangerous is the garbage food we put in our mouths and the BS that .gov said "low fat" diets. Sugar, Crisco, and vegetable oils kill more than asbestos--i rekn'. Stick to butter and lard.

 

[Seabrooke]

Thanks everybody, for the information.

I prefer to be aware but not alarmed.

Having seen friends die from both Asbestosis and Mesothelioma, and knowing that I did have direct exposure years back whilst serving on Warships, I consider myself fortunate and now working in property maintenance and renovations I am always mindful of exposure for myself, my crew and my customers.

This thread is just me still being aware.

Thanks again.

 

[lake of the woods]

Yes, better to be prepared for dealing with it. Does anyone know when Hatteras stopper using asbestos backed vinyl floring? I have a 1989 and I removed the flooring two years ago and there was some dust!.

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[MikeP]

Asbestos ceased being used in the most commonly used flooring in the mid '80's. Of course that doesn't mean it isn't in a boat from later than that simply based on stocks of flooring on hand. IOW, if Hatt had a several year supply of, say, 1982 Congoleum on hand, it would have been used until it was gone...who knows how long that might have been.

I read something somewhere a while back - I can't remember the source - that stated that it is safest to assume that any flooring installed prior to 1990 contains asbestos and treat it accordingly re removal. That seems like good advice to me...

 

[oscarvan]

it is safest to assume that any flooring installed prior to 1990 contains asbestos and treat it accordingly re removal.

That means wear a respirator, and dispose of it with the shrimp tails and cat poop in small batches.

 

[dottieshusband]

FWIW, I used a lab last week to test some material in a house I inherited. AHI Labs in California, 21 bucks per sample and no hoops to jump through, no kits to buy. Just put a small sample in a zip lock bag and mail it to them along with a form printed from their website. Couldn't be easier.

 

[Dos Equis]

The place I suspect asbestos most is in the 12v light fixtures on my 44TC. The wire inside is coated with a very fiberous white insulation that floats around when disturbed. Have not sent samples for testing but try not to disturb.