life expectancy of an aluminum hull boat

fishindude · 09-22-2006, 07:01 AM

Looking at buying an aluminum boat with 1400 hrs on it. What sorta problems should I be looking for? It is a 1989 22 foot almar sounder. Just concerned about the hull. I know it will need a complete repower. Also, is there a person I could hire to do a complete hull inspection?
thanks

rv10pilot · 09-22-2006, 09:27 AM

The great thing about Aluminum is it will pratically last forever. I have a 1978 Almar I am refurbishing and it is built like a tank.

Things to look for - really it would be cracked welds or cracking in the aluminum. Neither is really that big of a deal because you can just weld it up.

Rv

wetaline · 09-22-2006, 12:55 PM

look for corrosion problems as well.

WAID · 09-22-2006, 05:56 PM

My parents have a 20+ yr old aluminum canoe that has spent it's whole life outside and has even had large icy branches dropped on it (had to patch the hole that split open). It still floats and handles well even in rough water. The aluminum looks good too but we wax it almost every year.

tomictime · 09-22-2006, 06:24 PM

Hire a marine surveyor who knows alu boats

I have more hours on a 1995 Sounder, I wash it w saop 3-4 times a year, look in my gal for pics. I am vain and have paint, so that is not in the best of shape, the basic hull, welded structure otherwise: bulletproof.

Was it moored and next to what are bigger issues as well as were elec stuff added w proper bonding. decent survey will asnwer those and MANY other ?

Pump w Diesel will not need repower w those hours.

Call Mike or Tim at Almar w Hull # and they can help w boat history, things to look for. have hull ID number handy.

JD

gerry · 09-23-2006, 07:16 AM

I have a 1976 smokercraft 12'.It's got me fish,ducks,geese, crabs at Walport and even a deer. Not much saltwater, but still pretty impressive.

timinthegorge · 09-27-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

My parents have a 20+ yr old aluminum canoe that has spent it's whole life outside and has even had large icy branches dropped on it (had to patch the hole that split open). It still floats and handles well even in rough water. The aluminum looks good too but we wax it almost every year.

I've never heard a better testimonial for "upgrading"...

Tinman · 10-08-2006, 08:36 PM

I had a 197 Bayrunner 15 footer that I used exclusively in saltwater. After 10 years, it had minor corrosion holes in the transom over the plywood core. These holes were never much of a problem...I patched them with epoxy. I always rinsed the boat in freshwater after use.

Chrome Bumper · 10-10-2006, 09:07 AM

We have a 1964 survey boat, had to replace a little plating apound the batterys. Been moored in tidewater/salt all this time, looking to replace now due to the age of the running gear basically. A good old gal with long sealegs.

89 sounder, that's like new. Any wood in the construction would be suspect. Check for pitting and thin plate, you can check with a thickness gauge, if its lost 20% of its thickness you should replace it.

Jennie@ifish · 10-12-2006, 07:05 AM

Speaking of such... where do all of the old aluminum boats go?
You go to the ghost hole and you see all NEW boats, or mostly.... I've often wondered... where do they go?
Are they in people's back yards, buried in leaves or what?

I wonder what a google earth would show. Thousands of old alumawelds in people's back yards? :smile:

J

Chrome Bumper · 10-12-2006, 08:36 PM

I've got an old one that will be on our home coming float to honor the visiting Astoria team. Them it goes back to coveing the wood pile.

Some day it will be reincarnated as a budwieser can.

Okie · 10-12-2006, 09:01 PM

My boat is aluminum and is about the first jet boat built at Stevens Marine on aluminum 20 ft hull. The Aluminum is as good as it was 30 years ago and it will easly keep up with the most modern boats of its type today. There has been some modifications on it for noise but the hull is the original. And it goes and goes. I'm sure if I gave you the name on the boat there would be many of you recognise it immedeatly and be surprised at its age. It's really a new looking boat that is old. You really can't tell the age of some boats by looking at them from a distance.
Good Luck;

fishindude · 10-13-2006, 01:16 PM

Where do old boats go. I have wondered that myself. Is there a place to take an old boat, like a junk yard for boats??? I would assume with the cost of aluminum that it would end up as Hundai Elantra within a year

Okie · 10-13-2006, 03:18 PM

Goodwill will except them and take them off of your hands free. Just donate it to them and let them take care of it.
Good Luck;

fishindude · 10-16-2006, 02:36 PM

donate and forget about it. good idea.

Thumper · 10-16-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishindude

Looking at buying an aluminum boat with 1400 hrs on it. What sorta problems should I be looking for?

1400 hours is nothing. In 1985 I purchased an Alumaweld 16-ft. flattie and put a 200 pump on it. Wooooeeee!

Used it nearly every day for many years. Then sold it to Bob Fraker in Yakutat, AK, who has used it in guide service daily ever since for silvers, steelhead, chinook, sockeye etc. fall, winter, spring and summer.

Conservatively that boat has at least 10,000 hours on the hull (the equivalent of about 5 years of full-time use).

It runs like a top. Unless you purposely bash your aluminum boat around, it will outlast you and likely your kids.

Chrome Bumper · 10-17-2006, 12:26 PM

Also depends, depends on how much salt it sees and if it clean and dry on the trailer most of the time. Also depends on how much heavy loading the panels see as in crashing through waves.

I would look for pitting/corrosion in areas that would stay wet, such as low areas or areas that are covered .

If you don't see any deformed frames/reinforcement, pinholes, extensive corrosion or a lots of repaired cracks the hull should be sound for a good long time. Localized damage can be repaired by you and your freindly local aluminum fabricator.

It will seem to you like your project will take forever. But if you want a new hobby, go for it. Its a fun one.

timinthegorge · 10-17-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrome Bumper

Also depends, depends on how much salt it sees and if it clean and dry on the trailer most of the time. Also depends on how much heavy loading the panels see as in crashing through waves.

I would look for pitting/corrosion in areas that would stay wet, such as low areas or areas that are covered .

If you don't see any deformed frames/reinforcement, pinholes, extensive corrosion or a lots of repaired cracks the hull should be sound for a good long time. Localized damage can be repaired by you and your freindly local aluminum fabricator.

It will seem to you like your project will take forever. But if you want a new hobby, go for it. Its a fun one.

I couldn't agree more with Chrome Bumper.....

Draggin' Bait · 10-19-2006, 10:33 PM

My first boat larger than a rowboat was a 1959 Lone Star riveted 15' boat with substantial saltwater use. All I had to replace was the wooden transom and floor -- the hull was fine. I sold it ten years ago and it could well still be going strong.

Okie · 10-20-2006, 09:59 AM

Life expectancy of an aluminum hull boat is the question. It will last a very long time. The old riveted aluminum boats were short lived because of the rivets developing leaks and working loose, but the heavier aluminum welded together properly will last a very long time. Much longer than any other matierial that I'm aware of. Like everything it depends on how you take care of it.
Good Luck;

Seefood Man · 10-24-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennie@ifish

Speaking of such... where do all of the old aluminum boats go?
J

Jen, that's why God made blackberry bushes.