Ford Aluminum Body
Sorry fellows. Having problems posting and I give up
Forum Discussion
Aluminum boats in salt water have lots of corrosion problems IF they have steel or stainless steel fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets) holding the hull together or items/components attached to the aluminum hull. Totally welded aluminum hulls hold up very well in salt water and even a lot longer if they are properly seal painted inside and outside. Care must be taken to isolate any electrical contact with/from/thru the aluminum hull material.
The real issue is how to attach components/items to the aluminum hull as aluminum fasteners have less that 1/2 the strength of steel fasteners so that's not an option. Properly done epoxy/high tech cured bonds is an option but must be done with enough square inches of true contact surface to surface mating and be totally clean before gluing. Costly and the jury is still out on the long term hot sun and ambient chemicals effect on such affordable bonding methods. If a method used is not affordable in the mass selling marketplace, it simply won't be used as the true construction method of choice.
The real issue is how to attach components/items to the aluminum hull as aluminum fasteners have less that 1/2 the strength of steel fasteners so that's not an option. Properly done epoxy/high tech cured bonds is an option but must be done with enough square inches of true contact surface to surface mating and be totally clean before gluing. Costly and the jury is still out on the long term hot sun and ambient chemicals effect on such affordable bonding methods. If a method used is not affordable in the mass selling marketplace, it simply won't be used as the true construction method of choice.
