Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Aluminium vs. Fiberglass
What experiences have you all had with aluminium hulls and decks? Advantages and disadvantages? Thanks. I owned a French built Al sloop and loved it. The first winter I kept it in a boat yard with 3 others. One was 25 years old and the hull still looked beautiful. Al is held in high regard in Europe -especially in France where is it more common to call the hull alloy, because it is really an Al alloy designed for the environment. The French people are enamored with long distance sailing. Most Mega yachts are Al. Steel and wood are high maintenance materials. Fiberglass does not have the strength, and particularly the impact resistance of Al. With Al, you have to be careful about the electrical system and the hull. Basically,the system is not to be grounded to the hull or you are asking for trouble. In my 6 ears of ownership, I had absolutely no problems with corrosion. Zero. In this country, you can usually find a good deal on an Al boat because they are not that popular here. However, it is a double edged sword when you go to sell it. Get a surveyor who understands Al boats. Good Luck! Bill |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
painting a fiberglass dinghy | Boat Building | |||
Cleaning Fiberglass | Cruising | |||
rec.boats.paddle sea kayaking FAQ | General | |||
What is the Right Size Motor for a 17-Ft Fiberglass Boat? | General | |||
Fiberglass loss of strength | Cruising |