• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

How much is aluminum

Southern Airboat Gallery Archives

yacht club nice morning
14' Wide Track, Purple Metal Flake
AMOS DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST!
Sage_1
1972-July122
Fat_Gator
NorthWestFloridaBoy

NorthWestFloridaBoy

Well-known member
Well my mini plywood airboat is done and I think I want to build another one in the future this time a deckover out of aluminum, I am thinking 12 by 6 or something about that size. For power I'll use a snowmobile engine (they are cheap on ebay and powerful) and use a belt drive reduction (3 to 1), I want it to be light so what kind of aluminum sheet should i use? should I use the thin heat treated stuff and rivet it? or thicker stuff and weld it all? I won't be runnin a lot of dry ground at all, mainly in rivers, thats why I want the deckover I don't want an open hull that can easily swamp in a river. how much is a sheet of the proper aluminum?
 
it all depends i would go with 7075 t6, but there are some that use 6061. the price range from $400 to $600 a sheet for 7075, and for the top deck i"d go with 2024t3 050 or 063. if you have a scrap metal place in your area you can somtimes buy it for $2.00 a pound which will save you alot of money.
 
Just a little word of advice, I own a company that sells metals. The best aluminum you can use is marine grade 5086, or 5083. I can not tell you the number of 6061 t6 boats i have seen that crack up. The T6 in the 6061 is the hardness rating (tensil) this alloy is good but with the vibration in an airboat and the type of terrain airboats run you will end up with cracks every where. 5083 & 5086 will give and move where 6061 and up will break beacuse ot the tensil strength. This is why the U.S. Navy uses 5086 & 5083 exclusively. This is just my opinion but if you want your boat to last you will build it with one of the two.

Matter of fact you can shoot the 3/16" 5086 at point blank range with .357, .44 mag, .45, and you will not put a hole in it not even a crack, 6061 t6 = swiss cheese. If you don't believe me ask Faron Floyd @ American Airboats that why they have a lifetime warranty on their hulls.
 
Lil_a, Do you sell 7075 T6 and how much per sheet w/shipping to fl?

KR_23 Do you know of a place in fl? Looking to build some riveted hulls.

Dave
 
lil_armond,

I just retired an airboat ...6061 t6 ...rivited...well over 3000 hrs, was on second engine. The rear deck had some cracks, that problem comes with hollow composite props. Hull had other issues, but they were all self inflicted.
By the way that hull was over 18 years old!

From American Airboat:

* Marine Grade 5086 Aluminum
*
o .125 in. (1/8 in.) on the sides
o .190 in. (3/16) bottom thickness not counting polymer

If you want a boat this heavy (not saying this is bad, just not my preference) 5052 will probably hold up!
Don't anyone take this as a slight against American Airboats, it isn't meant to be. I think they are fine looking boats.

Grant
 
geneva 0550 yes i do, but i'm not in the country so i don't have the #, but if you see my brother on the river he can give it to you. Dennis is his name i believe you know him he's probably driving my boat blue don davis, and as far as the right metal, my boat was built in 1980 out of 7075 t6 the only thing that has changed on this boat was the top deck and cage and the only reason the top deck changed is because i got the metal cheap it was easier than cleaning old deck. and the guys who have been builing these types of boats forever this is what they use. thurman, don davis, war daddy and there are some others.
 
Grant, thanks for the info. Looks like they have a place here in the orlando area.

KR_23, I just saw dennis putting in at jolly gator the other day. I remember meeting you at our boat ramp in lake harney woods that night y'all rode with adam.

Dave
 
yes thats me geneva 0550 and if you see my brother tell him to go put my boat away and drive his own, anyways i talked to him today and he said just ask and he'll ride with you to go pick it up the metal.
 
Lil_armond, thanks for the info. Nice bunch of gators can y'all hunt during daylight in tx? What are the limits?

KR_23 What happened to dennis' 0200 on that 9' hull. that was a cool rig.

Dave
 
Geneva0550 said:
Lil_a, Do you sell 7075 T6 and how much per sheet w/shipping to fl?

KR_23 Do you know of a place in fl? Looking to build some riveted hulls.

Dave
Click to expand...

7075 and 2024 are both very high strength alloys. But neither should be welded. You can get them to stick together, but they will crack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top