The effects of this are corrosion. Heres an update from my message board post on 53002 regarding the corrosion on my 2000 TV-18 Tracker.
In only a couple years when used in saltwater things will start to go bad rapidly.
Aluminum boats in salt water. Can You Use an Aluminum Boat in Saltwater. So can you use an aluminum boat in saltwater. Yes you can use an aluminum boat in saltwater.
This is the short answer and there is much more to know so lets dig into the details. According to Ed Sherman an education director at the American Boat and Yacht Council Saltwater is hash stuff. Aluminum boats are safe to use in saltwater.
The only problem with using an aluminum boat in saltwater is it corrodes over time. Saltwater is highly corrosive and saltwater corrodes metal 5 times faster than freshwater. So saltwater effects the boat more than any other waters.
Does Salt Water Damage Aluminum Boats. Does saltwater damage aluminum boats. Yes salt water corrosion does damage aluminum boats.
Over time aluminum slowly oxidates in saltwater. The electrochemical inside the aluminum of the boat isnt strong enough to handle the harsh effects of corrosion caused by the saltwater. Aluminum does a great job of resisting corrosion most of the time.
When not in contact with other metals aluminum can do quite well in both fresh and saltwater needing only bottom paint for aluminum boats to prevent fouling. However to play it safe the American Boat and Yacht Council ABYC recommends that aluminum vessels shall have a protective paint coating that provides a high electrical resistance barrier between the aluminum and the water. Aluminum boats require special care to prevent salt water corrosion.
Theyre light economical nearly maintenance-free easy to repair and almost impervious to damage. The Coast Guard and Navy prefer them for small craft and many commercial boats are aluminum as are many recreational craft. The primary issue with aluminum fishing boats that are regularly used in saltwater is the possibility of electrolysis which causes rapid corrosion.
This generally occurs when 2 different types of adjoining metals come in continuous contact with saltwater. However aluminum boats are a popular choice among anglers pleasure boaters and watermen so this particular metal can clearly handle exposure to salt water with proper care. In fact aluminum can be a smart choice whether youre planning to make waves in a boat or enjoy the ocean breeze in a seaside home with aluminum handrails.
Use soap. Just hosing the boat and trailer down after use will NOT remove all the salt. I use one of those spray jugs that are originally sold for washing second story windows and go on your hose.
About an inch of dishwashing detergent and then fill with water. Rinse the boat with clean water. I have run one for years in the salt water and have commercial fished on several aluminum boats.
They all can run fine in the water. Couple things you need to do is to flush the engine or take it out to the lake and run it every once in a while wash down the trailer though most are galvanized and will take a long time to get eaten and make sure you have zinks welded onto the boat some. Now you mention salt water and protection from galvanic corrosion.
Just like any piece of metal aluminum will corrode over time that is why boats that are left in salt water do need to be bottom painted this creates a barrier from the salt water. It also helps with growth. The second requirement is having the proper cathodic protection.
May 31 2002. Anyone considering purchasing an aluminum tracker or using one in salt water needs to take note of the following experience. I have used my boat in salt water 6 times and have cleaned it thoroughly after each use.
Heres an update from my message board post on 53002 regarding the corrosion on my 2000 TV-18 Tracker. An aluminum boat used only in freshwater will last for a heck of a long time. In only a couple years when used in saltwater things will start to go bad rapidly.
I have a couple friends with aluminum boats and we work on all of them all the time. Given that saltwater is bad for everything but I just think you are always asking for trouble with an aluminum boat from my experience. Aluminum boats in general and Duroboats in particular offer great performance ease of maintenance and economy.
The need to operate in salt water should not deny you those benefits but you must be smart about it. It is good to be concerned and keep an eye on corrosion. All metal boats are potential candidates for galvanic corrosion.
Aluminum in Salt water. By jralbert Tue May 09 2017 310 am. My 88 32 Fly Bridge sedan was in brackish Chesapeake Bay halfway between Atlantic Ocean and north end of the bay.
No corrosion issues with the boat properly protected and with a Capac Monitoring system. Tips and Tricks to maintain your Aluminum Boat and Trailer in Saltwater. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy Safety How YouTube works Test new.
I dont understand why other aluminum boats are ok in salt aluminum yachts trawlers sportfishermansportfisherMEN party boats charter boats and coast guard boats just to name a few from the cold water of alaska to the bathtub hot water of the tropicsIf I use zinc primer and plenty of zinc anodes doesnt that protect the. Prevent corrosion of Aluminum in salt water A discussion started in 2000 but continuing through 2020. I am doing maintenance on boats made out of aluminium.
Have experienced corrosion pitting on bottom plating etc. Boat is working in salt water. This is more serious on the inside of the plating.
Need some solution to this problem. A bronze or other metal fitting on your boat or even a neighboring vessel in the water can be the alternate metal that corrodes your aluminum hull. What Can You Do.
The American Boat and Yacht Council ABYC recommends that aluminum boats be painted with a protective coating to shield them from the kind of electrical reaction that occurs in saltwater with mixing metals. Salt Water VS Aluminum Boats. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 11 of 11 Posts.
Steve Ericsson Registered. Joined Oct 14 2003 8509 Posts. Discussion Starter 1 Sep 28 2014.
Questions have been asked about buying used boats in particular a work boat. Unfortunately in saltwater this means the aluminum in your boat acts as the anode and thus its electrons are the first to go. The effects of this are corrosion.
In order to stop this process from happening to the aluminum in your pontoon tubes lower deck area and maybe your outboard motors propeller as well you need to add specific metal attachments to your boat that will act as sacrificial anodes. Posted October 9 2006 Report post. Ive owned aluminum boats from Duranautic Crestliner and Lund.
All were used exclusively in saltwater. Never had any corrosion issues electrolysis damage or any type of hull failure at all. They are made for the salt.
Salt water proof my aluminum boat 16 ft Starcraft - YouTube. Getting my aluminum Starcraft boat ready for the salt water. Getting my aluminum Starcraft boat ready for the salt water.