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Boat Forum / Building / June 2008Structural folds or creases - Aluminum
I have been looking at aluminum boats for the last couple years now with an eye towards how they are built. I have noticed a lot of them will have 'V's folded or stamped into the hull along the length for strength. I don't see anyway that a backyard builder could do this practically. Would a home built aluminum just be built with a structural frame with pieces going in both directions like a wood boat? >I have been looking at aluminum boats for the last couple years now with an >eye towards how they are built. I have noticed a lot of them will have 'V's >folded or stamped into the hull along the length for strength. I don't see >anyway that a backyard builder could do this practically. Would a home >built aluminum just be built with a structural frame with pieces going in >both directions like a wood boat? They may allso be there to help longnitudnal stability or for spray control. You can get the strenghth by rivetting or welding on stringers made from aluminum angle.on the inside or bend some flat stock 3 times to make a V shaped piece. that could go on the inside or outside of the hull. >>I have been looking at aluminum boats for the last couple years now with >>an [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > They may allso be there to help longnitudnal stability or for spray > control. A V mounted above the water line sweeping with the lines of the hull is almost always there for spray control. I think they even call it a spray rail. > You can get the strenghth by rivetting or welding on > stringers made from aluminum angle.on the inside or bend some flat > stock 3 times to make a V shaped piece. that could go on the inside or > outside of the hull. Yeah, that's basically what I figured Bob La Londe www.yumabassman.com All those integral shapes provide rigidity in very light sheet material. These boats are typically riveted, or welded in extremely controlled environments. For a homebuilt, you will probably weld, using much thicker material; I understand that most welders can do good work in 3/16 plate, the talented in 1/8, and only very very expert can weld material lighter than that with much success. These thicker plates require less framing or complex bending than the thin material. For a full discussion, take a look at Pollard's Boatbuilding with Aluminum: http://www.amazon.com/Boatbuilding-Aluminum-Stephen-F-Pollard/dp/0070504261 Have fun! Sal's Dad >>> I have noticed a lot of them will have 'V's >>>folded or stamped into the hull along the length for strength. I don't [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> stock 3 times to make a V shaped piece. that could go on the inside or >> outside of the hull. > All those integral shapes provide rigidity in very light sheet material. > These boats are typically riveted, or welded in extremely controlled [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > 1/8, and only very very expert can weld material lighter than that with much > success. Bullshit. I am a mediocre welder, and I can weld .062 all day with no issues. A good welder can do thinner than that. THere is no mystery in welding aluminum. It just takes practice and a decent welder. > These thicker plates require less framing or complex bending than the thin > material. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>>stock 3 times to make a V shaped piece. that could go on the inside or >>>outside of the hull.  Signature“TANSTAAFL” ____________________________________________________________________________ America: Ironically, the safest place to be anti-American. ____________________________________________________________________________ "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3 > I have been looking at aluminum boats for the last couple years now with an > eye towards how they are built. I have noticed a lot of them will have 'V's > folded or stamped into the hull along the length for strength. I don't see > anyway that a backyard builder could do this practically. Would a home > built aluminum just be built with a structural frame with pieces going in > both directions like a wood boat? I was building aluminum plate boats in the 5.6metre-7metre range for about a year, these were fairly expensive high quality fishing boats with water ballast keels and various layounts including cuddy cabins and walkarounds. These were plate aluminum boats, using materials up to 6mm (1/4") so they were fairly rigid, but still had only a single hard chine in the hull where the V bottom joined the side plates, then a "step" in the sides. You can see the boats here; http://www.barcrusher.com.au/ They are not overly complex to make, though a good aluminium MIG with synergic pulse is a huge help. Try Fronius (my preference) or Kempi, but dont expect too much change from $10,000. The forming/cutting tools are very basic. Any tungsten tipped blad for woodworking is good for aluminum. You can use common woodworking table saws, drop saws etc. The machine used for putting the step in the side panesl is not expensive, its just a simple offset roller, you can buy cheap ones for a few hundred dollars. You then mark the sheet with a marker where you want to have the step, then roll it by hand. Very basic. Knowing where to put the mark is the real skill ;) same with shaping the side/bottom sheets, the shape you cut them to is quite complex and not easily worked out. Expect to waste some materials ($$$) if you havent done this before and have no design/CAD knowledge. The simplest way to get a feel for it is to make scale modesl with cardboard. Dont try to be real fancy here, 10 minutes/model is enough. Just mark out on cardboard, cut, and tape. See what happens. Remember you'l need a very good fitup at this scale for it to translate to a weldable product at full scale. Best Regards, Shaun >They are not overly complex to make, though a good aluminium MIG with >synergic pulse is a huge help. Try Fronius (my preference) or Kempi, >but dont expect too much change from $10,000. One word: rivets Casady |
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