Another happy aluminium yacht owner here. Regarding welding the deck fittings on, much stronger than bolting, another advantages is no through hull fittings. It creates a very dry boat, most aluminium boat owners talk about vacuuming their bilge, not sponging it.. Another benefit is that I have no seacocks, many aluminium yachts have standing pipes welded in for water intake (eg, toilet water inlet). There are advantages and disadvantages to every building material, it just comes back to personal preference. Thanks.

To be clear rust is a type of corrosion (the wearing-away of metal), and to put it simply, aluminium does not rust, but it does corrode. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are fundamentally different. As with any metal, when it comes into contact with oxygen, an oxide layer will form on aluminium. Unlike with other metals such as iron or steel, the layer of aluminium oxide is actually protective - it’s hard, thin and fairly transparent, and is tricky to remove, unlike rust. As it’s not very noticeable and actually protects the metal, aluminium oxidation isn’t a big problem.

Aluminum boats aren’t as bad as you think. The difference between an aluminum anode and the material used in boat construction is completely different. Quality aluminum boats are built out of 6160-T6. Anodes are a much softer material. Look at Kanter Yachts in St. Thomas. They make some of the best aluminum boats in the world. Also most of the mega yachts are built in aluminum. I do boat surveying and between aluminum and steel, I have seen some very rusty steel boats. But have never come across an aluminum boat with big gaping holes from corrosion.

I lived aboard the Tole More, a 165 foot 3 masted gaff rigged schooner. She has teak decks and an aluminum hull. No complaints whatsoever. From Erie PA to Hawaii, she was a dream! 13 knots, oh yeah!

"places you wouldn't take a little fiberglass boat"...you mean like Svalbard on a Pearson 36? 😂 Another great episode Tim, thanks for the time, energy, and research you put into these.

I realize your format is easily digestible, not highly technical. Still it's important to not be incorrect. So please take this as constructive. Corrosion by stray current is electrolysis, not galvanic corrosion. Corrosion through dis-similar metals is galvanic corrosion. Steel and aluminum are both rugged, strong materials. But strength is not a single property, as I believe you understand. Maybe this is another place where your audience could be informed just a little more without being too technical, just as you did when comparing fiberglass high tensile strength to steel isotropic strength. If aluminum is built to the weight of steel, it is stiffer "stronger" globally and takes more energy to crush, dent, hole, buckle, etc. Steel is hard and abrasion resistant as well as "strong" so it is exceptionally rugged overall. That's all assuming aluminum's great strength is not used to make the boat as light as possible, which just like fiberglass, can result in a boat which is strong enough as a whole, but less than rugged in places.

I may stand corrected in my assertion but my understanding with regards to the limited number of aluminium yachts on the water is largely due to the limited number of yards around the globe that are capable of producing them. Yes, I'm aware that there are quite a few commercial vessel manufacturers but how many sailing vessel manufacturers are there that possess the plant and skills to build aluminium recreational yachts? Not many would be my presumption. The synopsis in this presentation is very good. I would add to it that with the exception of the potential effects of contaminated oil, all of the issues that affect aluminium yachts certainly affect steel yachts equally. I'm in Australia and there are a lot of aluminium commercial fishing/abalone/oyster vessels located in Darwin, which is a particularly harsh environment for just about anything. I've also had the luxury of sailing on Kookaburra 2 which is a 12 metre rule yacht built in 1985. That boat was built to absolutely minimum spec and despite that, it's still racing at least weekly 37 years later. I'd be interested to hear comments.

Aluminum hull sailboats seem to be much more common in Europe (especially Nordic areas, likely due to the ice). Was looking around at Meta 36~50 ft boats recently... they are almost impossible to find in the US... and when you find them (used) in Europe they are either very expensive ($600k+) or 40+ years old and need a full refit. lol. Although I did find a pretty nice looking 1983 Ted Brewer 46' aluminum hull boat in northern WA for ~$90k, but it needs new sails and a full refit/renovation.

An Aluminium can also be used as a heat transfer for the heat generated by AC or the engines, meaning you do not require sea water heat exchangers that become blocked with barnacles. Aluminium does not burn like fibreglass does, so more safe if a fire does start. Aluminium is recyclable, not just burnt or put into landfill. Aluminium is easier to repair from the outside for temporary fix, just screw on some gasketed sheets. You cant epoxy a hole in a fibreglass boat when underwater.

Great episode, learned a lot about alu boats. I would like you to make some episodes about Swedish sail boats. Would be great to see you talk about Orust island boats like Hallberg Rassy, Malö, Najad, Vindö, Regina, Fantasi, Forgus, Swedish yachts but also other boats like Albin (The Albin Vega) and others.

Hey, never heard of engine oil being detrimental to aluminium. Btw one great thing of aluminium to be mentioned is that you can dispose of it properly once the boat lifetime is out. Fibreglass sailboats are piling up at various places of the world because practically it is extremely difficult to recycle them. In Europe we see that people tend to just abandon them at places where the community or some authority will have to remove them and have it replaced on the community's expense. In alu boats it will never be an issue, even if they reach their end of life (which is, as you also said, can be extremely long). I read a statisic that cca 70% of the aluminium ever produced is still in circulation. These big hulls, masts and booms are prime examples of well recyclability (if there is such a word?). The biggest problem I actually agree with you, is the price range. The alu boats from builders of established reputation tend to be like way up there in terms of price. Even when used.

Another KZfaq sailing channel is Life on Jupiter. Jamie the owner is sailing a Mumby Cyber 48 cat made out of aluminum. He would be a good resource for you to talk to about living with an aluminum sail boat as he has been on his for over 2 years having sailed from Thailand across both the Indian and Atlantic and recently did the Great Loop and is currently back in the GoM.

I would certainly opt for steel over aluminum myself because I used to be a welder. With steel, you were right in saying you could carry around a welder and I could teach almost anyone how to weld steel effectively. Aluminum on the other hand definitely needs to be maintained by a pro. Welding aluminum is so different than steel and you can make a small issue way worse in an instant trying to maintain aluminum hull by yourself. Can you learn to weld aluminum? Sure but it will never be as easy as steel to fix.

Distant Shores is documenting their construction of an aluminum sailboat at the moment. But on another note, when I lived on Protection Island in Nanaimo one of my friends had a welded aluminum boat. When he moved off the island he couldn't sell the thing because the sheets were slightly made of different marine aluminum batches and suffered from dissolving rot and couldn't do anything about it. I knew they were finicky but this was a new one. Buy twice as much of the same batch and use half if it? .. Cheers to you ..

Thanks for the quick response in having an aluminum boat discussion. BZ.

“More rare than I like my steaks” - shows a picture of a Holstein cow. I guess he is a sailor not a rancher.

The US coast guard has been successfully running aluminum boats for decades. When I was there in the 80’s maintaining a couple of 41’ we just replaced zincs every year or two along with bottom paint. On the daily and weekly just wash off salt spray to keep corrosion away. Now the Navy has tested and found that much larger ships of aluminum are not the best material for their missions.

Thx mate, a well presented discussion of the pros and cons of Aluminium ( and thx for acknowledging the different pronunciations😉). Galvanic corrosion is of course possible on fibreglass boats as well particularly with the dissimilar metals issue in the presence of salt water, most notably in the standing rigging, not a good scenario. This means of course that the attention to electrical isolation is a vital requirement for any vessel, steel, aluminium or fibre glass. (unless you have the kind of budget that allows for an entirely composite hull, mast, standing rig, through hulls, mountings, anntenae and any other elements that are subject to salt water immersion. Even then you have to have some way of channelling a lightning strike to earth without blowing holes in critical structures, let alone electronics. Been there done that....) So... I think there are some excellent builders who make both sailing and power vessels from aluminium. Note that many modern military vessels are now primarily aluminium in construction and that there is a body of knowledge out there to draw on regarding the issues you have raised. I like the collision tolerance elements, Aluminium bends, deforms rather than shatters, good for adventures far from help, I like the options that are offered by the major Aluminium boat builders, swing keel, cutter rigs, and I like the strength to weight ratio of the right alloys. Note also that aircraft are largely aluminium constructions and spend most oil their lives out in the weather, and all of the issues associated with maintenance and corrosion are dealt with there too, thank god.. Anyway thanks again for your presentation. good work. cheers from Australia. the Dr.

I can't wait to start building my 32ft aluminium sail boat, as I mentioned in your steel video ( and you as well), build or buy a boat out of the material you can work with.

I have an aluminium hull, teak on plywood deck Koopmans 35 from 1982. It needs some TLC, so I'm fixing her up bit-by-bit. Every marina I visit in the Mediterranean has at least one or two aluminium sailing yachts.

nice video, as usual

seems like right now everyone goes for alluminium sailboats.

Here in Europe aluminium sailboats are very desirable and getting more so. France and the Netherlands are leading the way. Boreal, KM Yachts & Garcia to name a few. Corrosion or electrolysis is a real issue on older models and rightly very unforgiving with electrical mistakes. I would be avoiding older aluminium boats but definitely looking at newer models. Especially for high latitude sailing. Thanks 🙏 for the great content.

i know wood is no pc any more but would love your thoughts on it

lol that Will Smith joke was great

And do not forget concrete hulls!

Greatest aluminium sailboat ever made: Paratii 2

Great video- again. I find it weird though, that at least in Europe you get a steel boat pretty cheap whereas aluminium boats are soooo expensive on the market of used boats.

There’s Pros & Cons to all materials, like anything, Due Diligence. For me, Ali provides confidence in unfamiliar waters.

Great review as always. Hit the nail on the head to be Fair and honest. I love the center board Onvi 40/42. Yes it is expensive but I see 25 and 30 year old hauls looking like new before total refit Tobe a new boat for new owners...... It's one way to recycle expensive realestate I guess.... By the way, nice office furniture...... Congrats.

And what about coppernickel?

🤣😂 wake you harder than Will Smith can smack! lmao

Susan & Tony here, We are currently looking at an aluminum boat , it has been painted. We are most likely not going to make a deal . Your info was helpful.

My friend....I watch your videos and I want to comment on this....aluminum or aluminium is perfect IF is done perfect and professional....and in today's world that's mean MONEY...and I mean serious money....I'm very happy with the people who have the founds to make this realty but for the rest of us.....dreamers of the true life.. is a sad true reality... I wish many folks make their dreams reality

Most working boats in many industries around the world are built in steel or aluminium. Many spend most of their time at sea, in nearly all conditions, 24 hours a day. Hardly any of them choose to use fibreglass.

not sure its been mentioned by another commenter, but the reason aluminum isnt painted is corrosion. Raw aluminum very quickly forms a layer of AL-oxide which is protective. If you paint or otherwise seal aluminum, it allows any corrosion to spread rapidly, and unseen. I cant remember the chemistry of it, but anoxic aluminum is highly susceptible to salt corrosion, and that loves to exist in that oxygen free area.

My last sailboat was aluminum, 48 feet built in south Africa . I liked the boat but it was noisy inside in a sea way and forget about keeping paint on it . I bought it unpainted and faired and painted the hull and deck myself . took me two years. Bare aluminum turns ugly fast and starts looking like bare concrete . I got asked often if the boat was cement .

I was really hoping you would cover Aluminum sailboats!

Aluminium boats are more common in the UK , with Ovni being the one I've seen most of

This video cleared up many questions I had about Aluminum boat’s. Thank you ✌️

I can't wait to see 2DPA-1 used in a sailboat. Seems very promising.

Like always great video , great thoughts. Now would you want to do one on epoxy plywood boats which happens to be my own boat and I like it but other people might not. Mine is actually epoxy ply epoxy kind of like a composite hull. Fiberglassed in and out which is rear. Thanks !

White spot pirate channel has a Aluminum hull Think I remember a couple yrs back she had some corrosion issues with it.

Nice touch with the "innocent" placement of the Will Smith autobiography. I could see the corrosion occurring already.

u just helped me answer an age old question. why some boats are hit/damaged by lightening more than others, even of the same make and model. they answer is obvious. upgraded electronics rarely include upgrades to the ground straps/system let alone the anodes. is it not true that too many anodes causes problems also, not as bad as not enough, but left un checked could lead to catastrophic failures?

Tim love your channel watched you since the beginning. Curious though on your last video on Aluminum boats , thought you might have mentioned something about Kanter Yachts . As they have built Aluminum boats just down the highway from you for many years Cheers!

I work in a shipyard. We fix boats. Welding aluminum can be a pain. You may need to apply heat before welding it. It needs to be very clean. Welding it is time consuming. Tig welding is the best process. To hire a certified welder/fabricator to do the work is very expensive. If you own an aluminum boat, there will come a time to need fabrication work done. Steel is definitely a much easier material to work with than aluminum. Definitely listen to him. Aluminum boat owners will spend more money. Unless you know how to weld and fabrication of aluminum or money $$$$$ is not a big deal to you.

Aluminium is a less noble metal. Not softer.

0:05 that boat won a shootout with Somali pirates

Oil does not degrade aluminum. Aluminum is used in every single car engine made and directly contains the engine oil. That said, there is a lot of to still watch out for.

There is not much maintenance on aluminum boat. What maintenance are you talking about? just you need to change anodes regularly

Seems like it might be prudent to paint an aluminum boat on the inside at least, in case of an oil spill or the like. Likely you'd need some special paint though.

Your description of aluminum is not correct assuming that marinegrade aluminum is used. Yes galvanic corrosion is a problem but if everything is installed correctly and tested there is very small risks with the metal. I have haad my workboat for about 35 years now and it is smeared in with about everything in oil and chemicals without problems, but yes of course it doesn’t look perfect but it doesn’t affect the strength. Maybe if you fill up the bottom with acid, but otherwise no. I think that the price of a aluminum sailbot to start with is a key factor to why there is so few aluminum boats out there.

You missed a very important advantage to a metal boat. Lightning ⚡ since you will be Incase in metel you will enclosed in a Fariday Cage. You can sleep at night during a lightning storm on a metal boat. Plus Any lightning protection you employe for your electronics will be extremely more effective than on a plactic boat since it will have a great ground/counterpoise to work with. Everything is naturaly bonded in a metal boat. Much better than throwing a pair of make me fell good jumper cables clamp on the back stay and tossed overboard with maybe 6 inches of surface area

Distant Shores channel is in the process of getting an aluminum sail boat built

Using sacrificial metal has nothing to do with it being soft. hardness is not an electrochemical property.

I think that aluminum, properly built is the best material there is for a sailboat. Cost being the main negative. And you don’t bolt to or though alum, you weld everything. No corrosion and NO leaks. NO bedding or through deck fittings, none. No leaks, no bolts through anything. Weld. And learn aluminum welding and carry a welder. All it takes is money. Oh well.

Thanks for a great topic. Aluminum definitely has its place in marine environments. But, It’s probably not completely appropriate to refer to metals susceptible to galvanic corrosion as “soft”. I can’t image any metal softer than gold or silver or lead which are extremely “noble” or highly cathodic on the galvanic scale. You are correct that aluminum is fairly anodic compared to most structural alloys …and care needs to be taken to either electrically isolate it or galvanically protect it with something more anodic like zinc or use brute force by applying an impressed current to balance out the galvanic circuit. It’s natural tendency to form an oxide film is quite beneficial in fighting corrosion. ….second only to the durable coating produced by anodizing. Coatings like paint often times produce undesirable results if the coating becomes scratched. The small area of aluminum exposed by the scratch is likely to experience a concentrated current that will rapidly “eat” through what is effectively an exposed anode.

There are different grades of aluminum as well as steel and other types of material 5086 marine grade aluminum stand up to saltwater very well you do have a point however about dissimilar metals that’s why they make different types of anti-seizing compounds you do however need to be very careful in marinas and boat you are docked near as far as worrying about electrolysis. However oil and other petroleum based Products are most all of the diesel tanks are made from aluminum as well as most diesel tanks on semi trucks and if you’re buying a high-end aluminum boat most all of these considerations has been taken care of there are pros and cons to every type of material wood has worms and will rot in freshwater not so much in salt steel rust but there are types of steel commercially used in large ships that will only allow surface penetration as the recipe used to make the steel takes it into consideration and is layered with other types of alloys in the recipe However I’m not trying Say one is any better than the other cost seems to be the biggest factor as well as you stated were one will be Sailing. I do very much appreciate your channel and thank you so much for the job you do

Looks easyer to take care about rust in an aluminium boat than caring about rust and obligatory painting in a steel one.

Since this is a popular topic, I have a question that I'm sure someone will have the answer to: Why the concern about grounding to the hull of an Al or Fe boat? I get that you should have a single point ground and to my knowledge, it should be grounded to substantial structure like the keel. Isolating it is a safety hazard. At no other point should there be a power or signal return so you don't end up with circulating currents (ground loops) in the structure. Am I saying the same thing Tim was in the video? Is there some difference with a boat as compare to an airplane?

Great informations! Sir, what do you know about plywood-fiberglass or plywood-epoxy boats to 100ft? It's trimaran, foam insulation, Florida-Bahamas region, motor cruiser carter. TNX! 👌

I watch the KZfaq channel Distant Shores and the couple is having an aluminum boat built for them . As an aside is carbon fiber worth the cost / effort?

Pound for pound, aluminum is actually stronger than steel. But pound for pound it is also 3 times the volume. The advantage of aluminum comes when it is in the form or tubing or beams, where thinner, lighter sections are used in tension or compression. Much like building with fiberglass sandwich, you multiply the strength of the material many times. If you built an aluminum boat as heavy as a steel boat, you'd have a ¾" thick hull that would obliterate anything you hit. But if you bent 6061 square tubing over forms and edge welded them together, you would have something stiffer than anything short of carbon fiber, but so thin skinned it would get riddled with dents. As a side note, I once saw a giant robot tyrannosaurus called Robosaurus, at an air show. It was famous for being able to rip junk cars apart. They thought it would be fun to ha e it tear apart a derelict Cesna 151, one of the smallest, lightest aluminum production airplanes. It couldn't hurt the thing. Other than some ripples where the hydraulic claws grabbed the wings and body, the cesna survived almost intact, while the field was littered with shredded 400 lb cars.

"motor sailer" even better absolutely. Aluminum prices are plunging suddenly making very large displacement that can maintain stiffness and rigidity plus resist rusting and fouling. Generally not used because of expense of welding but because of US Space Program ("friction welding") this problem at retail level has by and large now been solved to the point where actual sailing ships might suddenly make a return to use for niche operations absolutely absolutely absolutely.

? does an unpainted aluminum boat attract sea creatures barnacles & other growth or is it toxic to them ?

How do you protect an aluminum boom or mast from stainless? I’ve been wrapping Teflon tape around the SS screws/bolts. Is this adequate longer term?

Dissimilar metals, steel cleats, hmmmm; what’s your take on aluminum masts with stainless stays/shrouds and steel cleats with metal winches?

Does anyone make a titanium sailboat?

Lol I call Al3 :-) nice job. Fe3 weights .281 lbs per inch cubed, Al3 weighs 0.1 lbs per inch cubed.

New digs?

You had to put a picture of Will..huh

this would be my choice.

If oil pits aluminum, how do aluminum Honda car engines last 300,000 miles?

Speak of aluminium on ruder steýring it start be comon to use alue material in ruder axels '???? I look at one boat that boat have no zink on the ruder ;??? how long will it last ore how strong is it comper to stanley steal 316

Why do Americans say "ALUMINUM" but then say "MAGNESIUM" ?

We love our Alubat OVNI 39, and you are wrong on a few items about corrosion/Galvanic series and durability. Comparing an aluminum anode to the alu used in hull construction is an apples to oranges comparison. Check out our aluminum boat sailing channel (where we actually sail vs talk about it) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aLWUeKmYv9-WcWw.html Cheers, Gizmo Crew

next up, wooden boats

Stop looking at yourself .. djeezzz

😂😂

I used to own fiberglass sailboats... now I've gone aluminium. There's no way I'd go back. Maintenance is a breeze... very dry boat (1981) and only dust can be found in the bilge. You should talk a out the plus side of aluminium sailboats not only possible corrosion (very unlikely if you're careful not to ground anything to the hull). I do lik your videos but this one lacks some content.

Aluminium boats offer the comfort of a tin container. Cold and unpleasant to touch/walk on. And fiberglas boats are much stronger than you seem to believe - and less prone to collision damage due to lighter displacement.

Sod this, i going to stay with carbon.

Im discovering Aluminum,,, face it, The Caribbean is not a good place to be post Pandemic, upper latitudes are becoming more of a Sane choice.... insulated Aluminum is the way to go i figure....

Why do we English say aluminium and not aluminum ?

You're a little misinformed. 5052 boatbuilder's aluminum has a slow reaction, even with salt water. Zincs? Yes you can zinc, but you can also prime with zinc. This is the coin opposite of people who prime or antifoul with copper paint. Weaker than steel? No. Not only is aluminum far stronger per weight than steel, you can maximize the design with aluminum extrusions, castings, and milling. Dissimilar metals? Try stainless steel nuts and bolts then stainless washers, then aluminum washers. The only real downside to aluminum is finding competent welding outside of the factory. There are quite a few eager arc welders and acetylene welders who would love to damage your boat. Competent welders are as rare as 400 LB ballerinas.

Sorry but I have to take offence. Aluminium DOES RUST!!! Only its called oxidation. That white stuff you see on Aluminium boats ain't salt it is rust (oxidation). On a side note I highly doubt aluminium will last a 100 years due to the fact it will become brittle with age

After the surface is clean, apply a thin coat of motor oil and kerosene fluid (it's noncombustible) sparingly over the entire surface. This will protect the metal from future oxidation. Repeat every six months. If aluminum is around salt water, repeat process every 90 days.

I know you are trying to be objective, but I am sorry to say that this presentation comes across as being somewhat ill-informed on the topic of aluminium boats. Many of the issues you raise are either exaggerated or simply not a problem. I say this as the owner of an Alubat OVNI, which is constructed entirely from aluminium. Corrosion is not an issue, so long as some basic precautions are observed. All OVNI’s have an electrical leak meter on the electrical panel, as standard equipment. The presence of a leak will be immediately detected and alarmed. Anodes are zinc and last 2-3 seasons. Galvanic corrosion risks can be avoided by installing an isolation transformer, which most larger OVNI’s have as standard equipment. The electrical system on my boat is no more complicated than what I would expect on any modern boat of equivalent size. OVNI’s are renowned as being highly robust, go-anywhere, blue water yachts. I would much sooner cross the Atlantic in an Aluminium boat than in something build of fibreglass. In the event of a collision with a large floating object, such as a container, aluminium will deform and dent, but is able to absorb the impact without allow water ingress. Fibreglass on the other hand, will shatter, potentially causing the boat to start taking on water. In recent months, there have been reports of Orcas attacking yachts off the coast of Portugal and in the Bay of Biscay. Several Fibreglass boats have sustained serious damage to their rudders, and have had to be lifted out for repairs. However, when an OVNI suffered a similar attack, the result was scratches to the anti fouling paint, and most likely an Orca with a few broken teeth. The rudder on my boat is 1.5 inch thick solid aluminium plate. The deck and hull of an OVNI are fully welded, making for a very stiff, strong boat. Production fibreglass yachts, such as Hanse and Beneteau, are nowhere near as strong. Suggest you do a bit more research, and check out Boreal, Alubat, Allures, KM Yachts, and Garcia. All rugged bluewater yachts and all built from aluminium.

Fool