"Peter Wiley" wrote

No it wouldn't and saying that demonstrates that you don't know the
characteristics of materials. Steel is more ductile than aluminium -
it
will deform more before reaching its plastic limit and tearing. It
is
also less susceptible to work hardening and notch sensitivity, and
welds can be 100% the strength of the parent material, which is not
the
case with al. Steel is also far more resistant to abrasion.

True, (except for the first line), but we are talking about the
behavior of an entire structure not a test specimen. The aluminum
hull behaves sort of like a rubber inflatable boat and the steel hull
like a fiberglass one. The glass hull is "stronger" but may be more
likely to puncture in many situations.

The steel hull would have been in pieces not because it is weaker but
because it would have flooded and been rolled around on the rocks full
of water instead of retaining enough buoyancy to get up above the surf
line.
Obviously, anything can happen in any accident but I've seen enough
damaged boats to have great respect for aluminum.

I have enough understanding of the materials characteristics to design
boats like this one:

http://home.maine.rr.com/rlma/WHOIrv.htm

--

Roger Long