Aluminum Boat - Increase Hull Weight Capcity?

croag

Cadet
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
21
This might be a dumb question but is there a way to increase the weight capacity of an aluminum boat? Reason I ask is because i have a little 12' boat that I would like to be able to run 800 - 1000lbs but it is rated at 600lbs.

I see there is foam below the aluminum bench seats and I keep wondering if that was to increase buoyancy (I'm correlating buoyancy and weight capacity of the hull) or merely used as a cheap stabilizer for the otherwise pliable aluminum.

I am not worried about the legality stuff here - just safety.

Thoughts on this?
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,464
Re: Aluminum Boat - Increase Hull Weight Capcity?

Ayuh,.... The only way to carry more weight is to displace more water...
In other words, a Bigger boat...

Foam is irrevelant til the hull is Flooded....
 

foodfisher

Captain
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
3,756
Re: Aluminum Boat - Increase Hull Weight Capcity?

Raise the sides and sit deeper in the water.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,019
Re: Aluminum Boat - Increase Hull Weight Capcity?

The formula's for calculating the load capacity can be tough and be happy the original manufacturer did the proper tests.

Read the PDF contained within this post http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=191283
 
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