Aluminum hull?

[zhandfull]

So on my daily commute I get to drive by the Eliminator shop off the 60. They have had some nice boats in the pool over the last three months or so . Its empty now with the rainy weather, but it sure does make me want another boat .

Today saw a nice little aluminum fishing boat on my way home. Made me wonder why you never see any custom style boats made out of aluminum. How about an aluminum cat style boat build. Ever been tried? What would the pros and cons be of building a custom boat out of aluminum? Maybe if I win the lottery I'll give it a shot.

 

[spectras only]

Plenty of boats made with aluminum, big and small.:thumbsupan
My friend just finished painting this one. Can't tell the difference between glass and aluminum now a days,the finish is that good.

 

[zhandfull]

Plenty of boats made with aluminum, big and small.:thumbsup

Nothing that looks likes an Eliminator or DCB that I've seen, must be a reason. Is it cost or is wood and fiberglass just better for a performance boat build?

 

[Riverbound]

Nothing that looks likes an Eliminator or DCB that I've seen, must be a reason. Is it cost or is wood and fiberglass just better for a performance boat build?

There was a guy a couple years ago that was making a high performance aluminum V bottom. He was documenting the Build online (pretty sure was on here but could've been in HB). That's the only one that comes to mind.

 

[steamin rice]

There was a guy a couple years ago that was making a high performance aluminum V bottom. He was documenting the Build online (pretty sure was on here but could've been in HB). That's the only one that comes to mind.

Rockitman....I believe the boat company was "Liquid Technology" and it worked faitly well. 40' V bottom.

 

[zhandfull]

Plenty of boats made with aluminum, big and small.:thumbsupan
My friend just finished painting this one. Can't tell the difference between glass and aluminum now a days,the finish is that good.

View attachment 457411 View attachment 457412 View attachment 457413 View attachment 457414

Ocean boat is on my bucket list for someday. Those are Bad A$$!

 

[Riverbound]

Rockitman....I believe the boat company was "Liquid Technology" and it worked faitly well. 40' V bottom.

That's it.....

 

[Don Johnson]

Only manufacturer that comes to mind is Cougar, they built an aluminum cat way back. Also a pretty famous race boat that I believe ran under the name "Riveted"

 

[spectras only]

Nothing that looks likes an Eliminator or DCB that I've seen, must be a reason. Is it cost or is wood and fiberglass just better for a performance boat build?

The one riverbound talking about was built in Oregon by Liquid Technologies and was seen in Havi.

Cost to build an aluminum performance boat [ seen them in 24,28, 40' and up] is more expensive especially if final finish meets a fiberglass one.

This is a 50 footer built here in BC.

 

[spectras only]

This was a 35 or 38 foot called Falcon. Adjustable canard to trim the bow level.Guy who owns both boats now is a crook and hiding both boats somewhere,long story.

 

[jetboatperformance]

Alloy boats are huge in the Northwest and Canada http://www.outlaweagle.com/ Were seeing more and more , currently repowering one ...

 

[Dkahnjob]

Tom Gentry, a very successful building contractor from Hawaii had at least two very fast race boats that were built out of Aluminum. They were called the "Gentry Eagle".
One was about a 50' Cat, all aluminum. The last time I saw it was in Marina Del Rey for sale at Randal Berg Yacht Sales. It was in disrepair, no engines and needed everything. It is a really big boat!
There was a second Gentry Eagle that was a 115' race boat made for long distance record setting. http://www.gentryeagle.com/ I believe it is also for sale. I think I remember that they had an accident that ultimately lead to Tom Gentry's death in that boat. I think that boat is for sale in Ventura. It is also aluminum.

 

[zhandfull]

Tom Gentry, a very successful building contractor from Hawaii had at least two very fast race boats that were built out of Aluminum. They were called the "Gentry Eagle".
One was about a 50' Cat, all aluminum. The last time I saw it was in Marina Del Rey for sale at Randal Berg Yacht Sales. It was in disrepair, no engines and needed everything. It is a really big boat!
There was a second Gentry Eagle that was a 115' race boat made for long distance record setting. http://www.gentryeagle.com/ I believe it is also for sale. I think I remember that they had an accident that ultimately lead to Tom Gentry's death in that boat. I think that boat is for sale in Ventura. It is also aluminum.

Wow 73mph in a 112' yacht! That's pretty impressive.
So if money were no object. I'm guessing that using aluminum would be lighter than a traditional performance boat build out of wood and fiberglass?

 

[Wakebrdr94]

even wake boats have their first all aluminum boat from pavati

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Aircraft manufactures are using a lot more Carbon fiber. It is lighter and stronger.

I believe Carbon fiber is more expensive then aluminum (in its finished form).

I'm sure the aluminum boat business in the Northwest has a lot to do with Boeing being located in the area.
Many unemployed aluminum workers were laid off in the 1990's, when airlines were looking for more in fuel economy.

Lighter weight equals less fuel consumption plus more passenger revenue.

 

[River Runnin]

I like mine! ...

 

[twocents]

I believe the first U.S. built aluminum offshore racing catamaran appeared around 1972-73, built by the Rhor Corporation who was experimenting with high-speed surface-effect vessels, hoping to sell something to the U.S. Navy. Paul Cook (Betty Cook?s husband) wound up with the boat and started campaigning it on the west coast POPBRA circuit in 1973 as the KUDU, a 35-footer made from an aluminum-honeycomb material called Hexel. The boat was fast but not great in rough offshore conditions. It did win one national race in San Francisco (as I remember, it was an unusually smooth water day for San Francisco) when it ran off and hid from all the vee-bottom Cigarettes and Bertrams. About a year later, Betty Cook got tired of being a spectator and took up offshore racing for herself collecting several national and world championships in vee-bottom 38-foot Scarabs.

 

[shueman]

One of our boat owners is VP of Munson Boats in WA.
They build all types of "work" aluminum boats ... v or cat bottom, and service all over the world.

Make a killer Dive boat :thumbsup

 

[spectras only]

Miss Britain III was built in 1933 out of light aluminum [ aluminium in England ] sporting a 1375 HP supercharged Napier Lion engine, spinning the prop around 9000 rpms giving her a speed record for single engined boat to 100-132mph.The boat was 24.6 with 8 foot beam.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I've wondered the same thing and came to the conclusion of cost, but also heat. For Havasu and other 120 degree areas aluminum can get crazy hot even painted white.

One of these days I'm gonna bring one of those river aluminum jet boats to the lower river. I think it would be amazing.

 

[Tom Slick]

Here's the Liquid Technologies SL44.

Pretty cool boat.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Here's the Liquid Technologies SL44.
View attachment 457454
Pretty cool boat.

OCM!! Run!! :yikes

 

[spectras only]

 

[JRS1939]

Only manufacturer that comes to mind is Cougar, they built an aluminum cat way back. Also a pretty famous race boat that I believe ran under the name "Riveted"

I think that boat made its way to phoenix...