On Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:45:21 -0400, Alex wrote:

Rocks and coral reefs are problematic because of the sharp edges that
can slice open aluminum but usually with less overall damage than
fiberglass, and much easier to repair.


Aluminum welds are not very forgiving so the repairs will never be as
good as the original.

===

I'm having trouble understanding your assertion about aluminum welds.
Aluminum boats are welded at the factory during their original
construction and are very strong and durable. A properly performed
repair weld will be just as good as the originals.

Were you referring to the skill level required to do a proper weld?

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:45:21 -0400, Alex wrote:

Rocks and coral reefs are problematic because of the sharp edges that
can slice open aluminum but usually with less overall damage than
fiberglass, and much easier to repair.

Aluminum welds are not very forgiving so the repairs will never be as
good as the original.
===

I'm having trouble understanding your assertion about aluminum welds.
Aluminum boats are welded at the factory during their original
construction and are very strong and durable. A properly performed
repair weld will be just as good as the originals.

Were you referring to the skill level required to do a proper weld?

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

Alex wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:45:21 -0400, Alex wrote:

Rocks and coral reefs are problematic because of the sharp edges that
can slice open aluminum but usually with less overall damage than
fiberglass, and much easier to repair.

Aluminum welds are not very forgiving so the repairs will never be as
good as the original.
===

I'm having trouble understanding your assertion about aluminum welds.
Aluminum boats are welded at the factory during their original
construction and are very strong and durable. A properly performed
repair weld will be just as good as the originals.

Were you referring to the skill level required to do a proper weld?

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in aluminum.

I figure the welds are closer to 75-80%+ not 50%. Look at
roguejetboats.com or precisionweldboats.com he they may have build
pictures. Look for Bentz boats. They build most of the CG certified jet
tour boats in the US. Lots of bracing inside the hull. The boats I know
with huge damage, some that sunk, did not sink from broken welds. Ripped
open on sharp rocks or a strike in the intake or edge of transom area
ripping large leaks in the bottom.

In article ,
says...

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:45:21 -0400, Alex wrote:

Rocks and coral reefs are problematic because of the sharp edges that
can slice open aluminum but usually with less overall damage than
fiberglass, and much easier to repair.

Aluminum welds are not very forgiving so the repairs will never be as
good as the original.
===

I'm having trouble understanding your assertion about aluminum welds.
Aluminum boats are welded at the factory during their original
construction and are very strong and durable. A properly performed
repair weld will be just as good as the originals.

Were you referring to the skill level required to do a proper weld?

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

This is commonly handled by designing a heavier weld structure, so it
can't be seen as a disadvantage - unless you just don't like aluminum.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 18:58:16 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

This is commonly handled by designing a heavier weld structure, so it
can't be seen as a disadvantage - unless you just don't like aluminum.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm

===

Nice analysis of the design trade offs, thanks. The biggest knock on
aluminum in my opinion is susceptibility to corrosion. It can be
managed but it takes vigilance regarding electrical faults, repairs
and debris in the bilge.

wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:50:28 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 18:58:16 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

This is commonly handled by designing a heavier weld structure, so it
can't be seen as a disadvantage - unless you just don't like aluminum.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm

===

Nice analysis of the design trade offs, thanks. The biggest knock on
aluminum in my opinion is susceptibility to corrosion. It can be
managed but it takes vigilance regarding electrical faults, repairs
and debris in the bilge.

I have a 40 year old aluminum boat that lived pretty much all of it's
life in salt water and it is doing OK. It is welded together

Part depends on the alloy. Either 50xx or 60xx for salt. Minimal copper in
the alloy. 60xx is hard to work.

wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 02:37:40 -0500, Califbill billnews wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:50:28 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 18:58:16 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

This is commonly handled by designing a heavier weld structure, so it
can't be seen as a disadvantage - unless you just don't like aluminum.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm

===

Nice analysis of the design trade offs, thanks. The biggest knock on
aluminum in my opinion is susceptibility to corrosion. It can be
managed but it takes vigilance regarding electrical faults, repairs
and debris in the bilge.

I have a 40 year old aluminum boat that lived pretty much all of it's
life in salt water and it is doing OK. It is welded together

Part depends on the alloy. Either 50xx or 60xx for salt. Minimal copper in
the alloy. 60xx is hard to work.

Dunno but the TIG guy I have used seemed to be doing OK with it.

The 60xx welds fine. Is hard to form. So your toon's are probably 50xx.
Same as my boat. The jet boats will normally only use 60xx in bottoms.
Not much bending, and tougher to dent.

On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:35:43 -0500, Califbill billnews wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 02:37:40 -0500, Califbill billnews wrote:

wrote:
On Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:50:28 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 18:58:16 -0500, Boating All Out
wrote:

Aluminum welded products will fail at the weld under stress. Welded
aluminum is about 50% weaker than unwelded aluminum. Skill has a lot to
do with it and my info is from a highly skilled welder specializing in
aluminum.

This is commonly handled by designing a heavier weld structure, so it
can't be seen as a disadvantage - unless you just don't like aluminum.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm

===

Nice analysis of the design trade offs, thanks. The biggest knock on
aluminum in my opinion is susceptibility to corrosion. It can be
managed but it takes vigilance regarding electrical faults, repairs
and debris in the bilge.

I have a 40 year old aluminum boat that lived pretty much all of it's
life in salt water and it is doing OK. It is welded together

Part depends on the alloy. Either 50xx or 60xx for salt. Minimal copper in
the alloy. 60xx is hard to work.

Dunno but the TIG guy I have used seemed to be doing OK with it.

The 60xx welds fine. Is hard to form. So your toon's are probably 50xx.
Same as my boat. The jet boats will normally only use 60xx in bottoms.
Not much bending, and tougher to dent.

===

Don't have welding equipment but I have done some cold bending on
3/16ths 6061 up to about 45 degrees. The slightest imperfection near
the bend line results in a stress crack. It's very strong however.