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Small aluminium boats
What kind of popularity do aluminium boats enjoy over there?
In Finland it looks like aluminium boats (usually ranging from 4 meters to 7 meters) are gaining wild popularity. I would attribute this mostly to durability and easy maintenance. The two most popular boat brands are reported to be Buster (only aluminium hulls) and Silver (mostly aluminium hull boats with glassfiber deck/superstructure). Silver just introduced a rather unusual boat, the Moreno which is a 21 feet day cruiser. (Or at least they claim so - I'm not sure if it has berths!) Looks sort of weird... http://www.silverboats.fi/index.php?lang=eng In the US I know there are some models which have aluminium hulls and jet propulsion. It's a bit funny that such a boat type is unknown in Finland, given our notorious, shallow waters with lace-like patterns of little islands, submerged ridges, rocks and stones. Our largest lake system has an average depth of 0.5 meters (2 feet)! I suppose jet type propulsion is not just too efficient for our typical power ranges, even though it would be a safe bet for our waters. (Our aluminium boats are usually powered by outboards between 20 and 150 HP.) Is there some good literature available on aluminium boats? I know there is the metal boat book by Bruce Roberts and some books on aluminium boatbuilding... But what is lacking could be maintenance guides for aluminium boats and literature concentrating on small aluminium boats. Perhaps they are just a local peculiarity in Finland? Risto |
Small aluminium boats
"Varis" wrote in message oups.com... What kind of popularity do aluminium boats enjoy over there? In Finland it looks like aluminium boats (usually ranging from 4 meters to 7 meters) are gaining wild popularity. I would attribute this mostly to durability and easy maintenance. The two most popular boat brands are reported to be Buster (only aluminium hulls) and Silver (mostly aluminium hull boats with glassfiber deck/superstructure). Silver just introduced a rather unusual boat, the Moreno which is a 21 feet day cruiser. (Or at least they claim so - I'm not sure if it has berths!) Looks sort of weird... http://www.silverboats.fi/index.php?lang=eng In the US I know there are some models which have aluminium hulls and jet propulsion. It's a bit funny that such a boat type is unknown in Finland, given our notorious, shallow waters with lace-like patterns of little islands, submerged ridges, rocks and stones. Our largest lake system has an average depth of 0.5 meters (2 feet)! I suppose jet type propulsion is not just too efficient for our typical power ranges, even though it would be a safe bet for our waters. (Our aluminium boats are usually powered by outboards between 20 and 150 HP.) Is there some good literature available on aluminium boats? I know there is the metal boat book by Bruce Roberts and some books on aluminium boatbuilding... But what is lacking could be maintenance guides for aluminium boats and literature concentrating on small aluminium boats. Perhaps they are just a local peculiarity in Finland? Risto Also in Minnesota USA. Crestliner, Lund, Alumacraft |
Small aluminium boats
"Del Cecchi" wrote in message
... "Varis" wrote in message oups.com... What kind of popularity do aluminium boats enjoy over there? In Finland it looks like aluminium boats (usually ranging from 4 meters to 7 meters) are gaining wild popularity. I would attribute this mostly to durability and easy maintenance. The two most popular boat brands are reported to be Buster (only aluminium hulls) and Silver (mostly aluminium hull boats with glassfiber deck/superstructure). Silver just introduced a rather unusual boat, the Moreno which is a 21 feet day cruiser. (Or at least they claim so - I'm not sure if it has berths!) Looks sort of weird... http://www.silverboats.fi/index.php?lang=eng In the US I know there are some models which have aluminium hulls and jet propulsion. It's a bit funny that such a boat type is unknown in Finland, given our notorious, shallow waters with lace-like patterns of little islands, submerged ridges, rocks and stones. Our largest lake system has an average depth of 0.5 meters (2 feet)! I suppose jet type propulsion is not just too efficient for our typical power ranges, even though it would be a safe bet for our waters. (Our aluminium boats are usually powered by outboards between 20 and 150 HP.) Is there some good literature available on aluminium boats? I know there is the metal boat book by Bruce Roberts and some books on aluminium boatbuilding... But what is lacking could be maintenance guides for aluminium boats and literature concentrating on small aluminium boats. Perhaps they are just a local peculiarity in Finland? Risto Also in Minnesota USA. Crestliner, Lund, Alumacraft I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. |
Small aluminium boats
Varis wrote:
What kind of popularity do aluminium boats enjoy over there? In Finland it looks like aluminium boats (usually ranging from 4 meters to 7 meters) are gaining wild popularity. I would attribute this mostly to durability and easy maintenance. The two most popular boat brands are reported to be Buster (only aluminium hulls) and Silver (mostly aluminium hull boats with glassfiber deck/superstructure). Silver just introduced a rather unusual boat, the Moreno which is a 21 feet day cruiser. (Or at least they claim so - I'm not sure if it has berths!) Looks sort of weird... http://www.silverboats.fi/index.php?lang=eng In the US I know there are some models which have aluminium hulls and jet propulsion. It's a bit funny that such a boat type is unknown in Finland, given our notorious, shallow waters with lace-like patterns of little islands, submerged ridges, rocks and stones. Our largest lake system has an average depth of 0.5 meters (2 feet)! I suppose jet type propulsion is not just too efficient for our typical power ranges, even though it would be a safe bet for our waters. (Our aluminium boats are usually powered by outboards between 20 and 150 HP.) Is there some good literature available on aluminium boats? I know there is the metal boat book by Bruce Roberts and some books on aluminium boatbuilding... But what is lacking could be maintenance guides for aluminium boats and literature concentrating on small aluminium boats. Perhaps they are just a local peculiarity in Finland? Risto Here (in Canada) small open aluminum boats are almost as popular as a canoe. Relatively cheap, light & durable they are perfect for fishing on small lakes.... with maybe a 9.9 hp outboard. |
Small aluminium boats
"Varis" wrote in message oups.com... What kind of popularity do aluminium boats enjoy over there? In Finland it looks like aluminium boats (usually ranging from 4 meters to 7 meters) are gaining wild popularity. I would attribute this mostly to durability and easy maintenance. The two most popular boat brands are reported to be Buster (only aluminium hulls) and Silver (mostly aluminium hull boats with glassfiber deck/superstructure). Silver just introduced a rather unusual boat, the Moreno which is a 21 feet day cruiser. (Or at least they claim so - I'm not sure if it has berths!) Looks sort of weird... http://www.silverboats.fi/index.php?lang=eng In the US I know there are some models which have aluminium hulls and jet propulsion. It's a bit funny that such a boat type is unknown in Finland, given our notorious, shallow waters with lace-like patterns of little islands, submerged ridges, rocks and stones. Our largest lake system has an average depth of 0.5 meters (2 feet)! I suppose jet type propulsion is not just too efficient for our typical power ranges, even though it would be a safe bet for our waters. (Our aluminium boats are usually powered by outboards between 20 and 150 HP.) Is there some good literature available on aluminium boats? I know there is the metal boat book by Bruce Roberts and some books on aluminium boatbuilding... But what is lacking could be maintenance guides for aluminium boats and literature concentrating on small aluminium boats. Perhaps they are just a local peculiarity in Finland? Risto Small aluminum's are very popular. Lund's, Smoker Craft, Klamath. As to the jet boats, different sizes for different waters. Check out www.riverjetmagazine.com for jetboat info. The Alaskan group use a lot of outboard jets and smaller, lighter Sportjet powered craft as they run small, skilly streams. The Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California boats are bigger as the rivers are bigger and deeper. |
Small aluminium boats
JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto |
Small aluminium boats
"Varis" wrote in message
ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. |
Small aluminium boats
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. Doug, I would assume you don't keep the boat in the water for long periods of time? If you keep it in the water all summer long and you don't have a major build up of algae someone must be pumping bleach or chemicals into the water. ; ) If the water is really clean and you are not getting algae build up, you are in the minority of fresh water boaters. I keep my boat in the water, and at our lake there is major problem with blisters. I am told this has to do with the water temp. So most boats that are kept in the water have epoxy paint and bottom paint applied. |
Small aluminium boats
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message ... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. Doug, I would assume you don't keep the boat in the water for long periods of time? If you keep it in the water all summer long and you don't have a major build up of algae someone must be pumping bleach or chemicals into the water. ; ) If the water is really clean and you are not getting algae build up, you are in the minority of fresh water boaters. I keep my boat in the water, and at our lake there is major problem with blisters. I am told this has to do with the water temp. So most boats that are kept in the water have epoxy paint and bottom paint applied. Blisters? In the paint? |
Small aluminium boats
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message ... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. Doug, I would assume you don't keep the boat in the water for long periods of time? If you keep it in the water all summer long and you don't have a major build up of algae someone must be pumping bleach or chemicals into the water. ; ) If the water is really clean and you are not getting algae build up, you are in the minority of fresh water boaters. I keep my boat in the water, and at our lake there is major problem with blisters. I am told this has to do with the water temp. So most boats that are kept in the water have epoxy paint and bottom paint applied. Blisters? In the paint? No, fiberglass blisters. They apply 3 or 4 coats of epoxy, then apply the bottom paint over the epoxy barrier. |
Small aluminium boats
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message ... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. Doug, I would assume you don't keep the boat in the water for long periods of time? If you keep it in the water all summer long and you don't have a major build up of algae someone must be pumping bleach or chemicals into the water. ; ) If the water is really clean and you are not getting algae build up, you are in the minority of fresh water boaters. I keep my boat in the water, and at our lake there is major problem with blisters. I am told this has to do with the water temp. So most boats that are kept in the water have epoxy paint and bottom paint applied. Blisters? In the paint? No, fiberglass blisters. They apply 3 or 4 coats of epoxy, then apply the bottom paint over the epoxy barrier. But we are talking about an aluminum boat. Aluminum doesn't blister, eh? I guess the algae concern might vary with the lake. Lake Vermilion boats sit for months without significant algae growth. The rocks don't get much either. -- Del Cecchi "This post is my own and doesn’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.” |
Small aluminium boats
Del Cecchi wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message ... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto My boat's hull is not painted under the waterline. And, I use it in fresh water. As grungy as some of that water may be, the boat stays clean for reasons that don't matter to me. Doug, I would assume you don't keep the boat in the water for long periods of time? If you keep it in the water all summer long and you don't have a major build up of algae someone must be pumping bleach or chemicals into the water. ; ) If the water is really clean and you are not getting algae build up, you are in the minority of fresh water boaters. I keep my boat in the water, and at our lake there is major problem with blisters. I am told this has to do with the water temp. So most boats that are kept in the water have epoxy paint and bottom paint applied. Blisters? In the paint? No, fiberglass blisters. They apply 3 or 4 coats of epoxy, then apply the bottom paint over the epoxy barrier. But we are talking about an aluminum boat. Aluminum doesn't blister, eh? I guess the algae concern might vary with the lake. Lake Vermilion boats sit for months without significant algae growth. The rocks don't get much either. LOL, I didn't notice it was aluminum. NEVERMIND. As far as the algea or lack there of at Lake Vermillion, I wonder why the water does not grow algea? We need to find out what it is and bottle it, and make a million. ;) |
Small aluminium boats
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message
. .. LOL, I didn't notice it was aluminum. NEVERMIND. Hey....at least you got to hear yourself talk, sort of. Again. All these years, I thought marine paint was to make the color acceptable to the fish. |
Small aluminium boats
JoeSpareBedroom wrote: "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message . .. LOL, I didn't notice it was aluminum. NEVERMIND. Hey....at least you got to hear yourself talk, sort of. Again. LOL! He is 0-2 on boating advice today. Why am I not surprised? |
Small aluminium boats
"Varis" wrote in message ups.com... JoeSpareBedroom wrote: I own a Lund, so I feel qualified to ask "What maintenance???" Wash it. Put it away. How about the sticky stuff - maybe from the previous owner. Barnacle removal: you could probably apply tougher methods than on fiberglass boats? Then bottom painting. Do you have to get everything out from the surface (mine seems to have a green-brownish pigment from removed algae) before bottom painting? What kind of paints are best etc... How about repairs? Do you have ruptured welds? Sanding out deep scratches. I suppose a maintained aluminium hull could go for 40 years, or more (some fiberglass boats have already survived that long). Would major repairs on an old boat be cost-effective? Over here second hand, 20 year old aluminium boats can have surprisingly high asking prices. Every now and then, I tighten the screws that hold the wooden seat tops onto the aluminum boxes. Nitty gritty details like these. Maintaining accessories like handrails, boweyes, aux engine mounts, etc. Rubrails. Too brand specific perhaps? Perhaps an aluminium boat wiki could do the job? :-) Risto Small trailer boats, do not bottom paint. make sure there are some zinc anodes on the boat for salt water. As to bottom paint, there are special ones for aluminum. MAKE SURE THERE IS NO COPPER IN THE PAINT. Copper paint and the boat will shortly dissolve in salt water. |
Small aluminium boats
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message . .. Del Cecchi wrote: snip But we are talking about an aluminum boat. Aluminum doesn't blister, eh? I guess the algae concern might vary with the lake. Lake Vermilion boats sit for months without significant algae growth. The rocks don't get much either. LOL, I didn't notice it was aluminum. NEVERMIND. As far as the algea or lack there of at Lake Vermillion, I wonder why the water does not grow algea? We need to find out what it is and bottle it, and make a million. ;) water that isn't very warm and has relatively low levels of nutrients doesn't seem to grow much algae. Just reporting observations. del |
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