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Date Posted: 15:25:04 06/11/08 Wed
Author: Alexander
Subject: Re: Aluminum boat advice, etc.
In reply to: Jay 's message, "Re: Aluminum boat advice, etc." on 09:59:48 06/10/08 Tue

As you mention, aluminum is subject to all sorts of electrolysis and corrosion problems. There is hardly a metal known that aluminum doesn’t sacrifice itself for. Having said that, aluminum is pretty much the standard for small to medium sized work boats on the West Coast and seems to hold up very well under tough use. It is critical that all the electrical wiring on the boat is done to the correct standard, the zincs are correctly placed, checked on a regular basis and replaced when necessary. Eliminating the prop shaft and prop, as Jay suggests, would also be a big help. No wiring can be grounded to the hull without serious consequences. Don’t let your passengers drop any copper pennies in the bilges. One very nice thing, if you don’t mind the look, is that aluminum does not have to be painted above the water line. This can be a significant savings in both time and money.
Jay pretty much sums up the dance with draft.
The other side of the coin, for operating in shallow water is the sharpie world. Even quite long boats can have very shallow draft that allows working in thin water. The Eastern seaboard has quite a long history with that type of boat. Years ago I owned a 40’ sharpie and loved it. I seem to remember she drew about 18” with the board up. She was very fast being long, light and lean and, under the right conditions, would surf, was not bad weather, she had a large centerboard, and she sailed upright which was quite relaxing. Things on the table stayed there even when beating to windward. Just a thought.

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