Aluminum boat

[Yannis]

I need to buy a 3.5-4.0m boat to go around in the bay, without moving my Bertram and losing my slip.
My 2.3m inflatable dinghy with its 2.5hp suzuki is simply too small and slow to do this.
I dont plan to carry it onboard, I just need a second boat to be able to go swimming with a couple of friends and carry the bare essentials like flippers, towels and the like, I will be storing it here in my garage in the winter without much fuss. I have a 9.9 and a 15 hp outboard to use it with, depending on which hp fits better.

There is no market and no knowledge about alu boats in Greece at all.
Can someone tell me what to avoid and what to seek for? Pros and cons of alu boats? Brands? Anything really, as Im also new to the concept. Thanks.

[Tony Meola]

Yannis

There are a lot of good ones out there. Are you leaving it in the water for any length of time? If you are you will need to use a paint on the bottom that does not react with the aluminum.

What size are you looking for? You are probably going to need a trailer.

I think you are looking for something like this:

https://www.starcraftmarine.com/showroom/2021/utility

They make a 14 ft model that seats 4 and weighs about 500 lbs. Not sure how fast a 9 HP kicker will push it, but it will push it. Heck we used to use 5 HP's on 12 foot wooden boats with 6 people and it moved slow but it moved.

Some others are:

https://www.rangerboats.com/aluminum.html

https://www.lundboats.com/

https://alumacraft.com/Alumacraft-Boat- ... s[]=is_bay

https://www.crestliner.com/

https://www.trackerboats.com/

All depends on what you are looking for. But the Starcraft might be more in line with what you are thinking about.

[Yannis]

Thank you Tony.

Yes, more like the starcraft utility 14. I need it to be light so that 2-3 people can flip it on a car roof or onto a borrowed trailer to carry it to my dad’s summer house garage at 1000m from the sea.
It will be in the water for 3-4 months, so I will be bottom painting it.

Is there anything incompatible between aluminum and salt water? How well are these boats protected against electrolysis ?
Is there a special alloy to be looking for?

I wonder why, while there are millions of boats made of GRP in the med, I’ve never seen a single aluminum one!
I’ve seen one or two aluminum sailboats, packed with lead anodes, and that’s all.

[Marshall Mahoney]

This is probably more than you wanted to know but... Aluminum flatboats are a standard in south Louisiana due to a lot of shallow water marsh fishing and duck hunting. 99% of them are welded construction (vs riveted) for strength and longevity. Welded will be a bit heavier than riveted. 10' (max capacity 2 people) -- can be easily placed in the back of a pick-up by 2 people. 12' (max capacity 3 people) can be done if you don't have to carry it far. 14' (max capacity 4 people) will need a trailer. Flat boats up to 14' feel a lot less stable than they actually are (they are not going flip, but getting in and out of them, especially from your Bertram's rocking swim platform, takes a fair amount of concentration -- got to step in the middle and move slowly until seated!). Trying to keep the boat from banging into the swim platform while getting on and off is nearly impossible. If you are climbing in after swimming, someone will have to counter balance the opposite side. They run great in protected water -- terrible in a chop. I have a 30 year old flatboat that I keep on a trailer -- no corrosion, but I rinse it with fresh water after each use. Adding an anode to the transom will prevent electrolysis if left in the water. I eventually bought a rubber dingy. Aluminum flatboat is great for fishing and hunting -- dingy better for swimming and tender.

[Tony Meola]

Yannis

For paint you would need one of these. NOt sure what you have available over in Greece.

https://www.bing.com/shop?q=aluminum+bo ... 7CD8625F9F

Here is a good article:

https://www.godownsize.com/common-probl ... ectrolysis.

Have you thought about inflatable. Might be a better option.

https://www.seaeagle.com/inflatable-boats

https://www.zodiac-nautic.com/en-us/

Still need to paint the bottom.

https://www.bing.com/shop?q=inflatable+ ... E0CA370F9E

[Yannis]

Marshall,

Actually this is all I wanted to know!

As my MAIN use will be to climb in from swimming, and as (for the first person in) there would not be anyone onboard to balance on the other side, I still wonder if my 100 or so kilos can climb without capsizing...
And yes, a flat boat is better for that purpose, as there will not be any wave challenges outside the bay.

Tony,

I’ll look into all those options.

No, it can’t be an inflatable because I can’t bottom paint it, and 3-4 months is too long for it to remain clean.
I’ve done it in the past and its a real pain to pull it on the beach, turn it upside down and clean it every fortnight.

[Carl]

I wanted to chime in, but have little to add other than an aluminum boat as mentioned is tough to climb in unless done from transom...but that only works when you don't have a motor on it.

[Yannis]

It may work with a motor if it’s wide enough, but that can’t be my case...
It appears that the aluminum boat of the size I’m looking for wont do the job for me.
Oh well, I’ll start looking for a fiberglass one...I thought I could get an aluminum boat with the benefit of being light, but it is this very benefit that prohibits it from doing what I want it for.
Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

[CamB25]

11 foot Boston Whaler comes to mind. They don't make them any more, but there should be used examples. You'll need a trailer.

[neil]

We have a 11ft whaler with a 20 on it great boat and it flies you can board it from the sides

[Yannis]

Yep, that’s what I was thinking too.
Or a typical fishing boat with a round belly.
Whichever is cheaper as what I want really is to be able to go 1 mile around in the bay and swim with my friends and absolutely nothing else.
The point is not to move the Bertram from the dock because I’ll lose my slip.
Thanks.

[Rick Jester]

I know this is far away from you but maybe someone is interested. Seems to be a good deal Aluminum catamarans 16, 18, 20

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 6c770f2a2c

[Tooeez]

13 foot Boston Whaler. I have seen two men hanging over the side of one, pulling another person out of the water, and the gunwale never went under the water, so there is no problem climbing aboard from the side. They are rated for 40 hp, but a 15 will push one just fine. Plenty big enough for 3 people. Too heavy to cartop--need a trailer.