Aluminum fishing boats offer good value for money. Compared to their fiberglass counterparts, aluminum fishing boats are arguably stronger and weigh less. Because they are lighter, they only require smaller motors giving boat owners more savings on fuel costs.
Although buying an aluminum boat may initially seem more expensive, it yields greater return on investment because it is expected to last longer and its resale value is much higher than other recreational boats. Owners of aluminum fishing boats also have less worry when it comes to repairs and maintenance as well as leaks, corrosions and rots in their boats.
The marine industry has been using aluminum as a material for building boats for over a hundred years. This is largely due to its light weight and ease of fabrication as well as resistance to corrosion and fatigue. For the past several decades, however, the dominance of aluminum as a preferred boat building material has been challenged. With the advent of new technology and boat builders seeking to cut production cost, there has been stronger leaning for the use of fiberglass as the major material for making boats. Fiberglass boats can be made from standardized molds that considerably bring down construction time and labor.
Despite the good points of fiberglass boats, aluminum boats are seeking to once again regain their hold in the boating industry. Makers of aluminum boats are also taking advantage of developments in technology that improve the process of cutting and welding aluminum, thus competing with the cost advantage that fiberglass boats provide.
As a fishing boat, aluminum boats are very easy to handle even by one fisherman. With its high strength-to-weight ratio, aluminum fishing boats can easily be transported and put on a trailer. Upgrading and putting enhancements are likewise easy tasks on aluminum boats. For instance, a professional welder can switch motors or add other features to an aluminum boat.
Solid construction is the key factor to the durability of aluminum boats. Unlike in earlier times when parts are riveted together, the pieces of molded metal are welded along their seams allowing the joints to hold together better. In case of dents and other damages, it is very easy to repair aluminum fishing boats. Slight damages can simply be hammered out while punctures can be welded with a new patch. Aluminum is also highly recyclable.
Debunking the myths on aluminum boats
The Aluminum Association, debunks the following myths on aluminum boats and offers compelling reasons why aluminum boats make good water crafts:
· They're cold and damp: False! Hulls and decks are easily insulated to ensure dry cabins.
· They're noisy: False! A well-built aluminum vessel with proper soundproofing is often quieter than an equivalent fiberglass boat -- as low as 70 decibels in the main cabin of a motorized yacht at cruising speed.
· Aluminum cannot be painted: False! With careful preparation and the application of proper primers and undercoats, aluminum holds paint very well.
· Hull fittings are difficult to install: False! Bait tank pumps and depth finders can be installed by simply drilling and tapping into the hull with a stainless steel fastener.
· Aluminum is easily corroded: False! Today's marine-grade aluminum is highly corrosion-resistant. Some surface oxidization can occur, but this in no way affects the strength or integrity of the aluminum.
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