Superb ..... excellent work ... fantastic photos ......errrrr! Poland?

Putting a nice steel cabin on then coach bolting on wood framing to produce recessed panels seems odd to me. It is always going to be a moisture trap and lead to wood rot and corrosion. Is it somehow more authentic than producing the same in steel?
I would be interested to know?
The workmasnship looks excellent though.
Dave

I do know that Beatty's original engine room casing was steel on the inside and then had wooden cladding. This did, as you say, cause terrible rust problems behind the wood. Hence, when replaced in the late 80s, it was just in steel.

Ben

Admittedly wood v's steel is not an ideal mix as they do react. However, wood is warm and friendly, steel hard and cold. Therefore the happy medium is for the cabin to be a sealed steel unit (no leaks, rotting etc.) and for the additions such as slides, handrails and panelling to be in wood. This gives the cabin a solid foundation but with a warm and appealing external appearance and feel. To me the soul of a boat is through its feel and steel does not give this as well as wood. For example, in your nice steel panelled boat could you imagine a back cabin fashioned in steel?! Of course not! Why should the exterior not be treated the same?
Came back from Poland yesterday and am back there on Tuesday - latest pics are at www.joshers.info/greypol.php