Thinking of buying an aluminum fishing boat? All of the major manufacturers include specifications about the boats that they make, and customers are often uncertain about the meaning of these specifications.
There are two important specifications when considering an aluminum boat that are thickness and tensile strength of the aluminum used throughout the boat. Hull thicknesses on aluminum boats can vary from 1/4 inch (.250) to 1/8 inch (.125). Tensile strength is a factor of the aluminum alloy used, with 5086 aluminum being the strongest.
You may find commercial boats made of other materials, but aluminum will serve you best in the long run. It holds up over the long haul and is very slow to rust. If you want to learn what makes for a great commercial fishing boat visit Hike Metal.
Why are these specifications important?
The bottom line is that aluminum boats with a stronger structure, based upon using thicker aluminum and the strongest alloys, will flex less on the water, greatly reducing the risks of cracking.
Bottom Width is More Important than Beam Width
When considering the bottom width and the beam width measurements of an aluminum boat, it’s important to understand that the bottom width is the more important measurement of the two. The beam width is the measurement of the width from the top of the gunwale on one side, to the top of the gunwale on the opposite side.
Bottom width is the outside measurement from the bottom of the chine on one side to the bottom of the chine on the opposite side of the boat’s bottom. A wider bottom width is important because it contributes to stability, capacity and speed to plane.
