Re: All aluminum inflatables?
mmm very interesting, I don't wanto know what a hassle it must be when that aluminium start to crack on the welds .....
My experiences with aluminum and welds, is if they are done right they will never crack. If the strain on the material is such that the material will crack, it will do so at a non-welded point. It is like a healed broken bone. It may break again, but never at the same point. This is all based on the weld being done professionally in the first place though.
Years of welded aluminum framed dirt bikes, which take a beating, prove that there is no reason to shy away from this material.
You only have to look to our northern neighbors in Canada, Alaska, and here in Europe, in the Scandinavian countries, to see that with commercially used guide boats for harsh environments, aluminum is often the material of choice. The “mega horsepowered” white water jet boats used for running up river also often use welded aluminum hulls.
I have seen heavily used pontoon work boats that are over 40 years old and show no signs of welding problems.
I probably should have posted this in the pontoon section, but from a design and style they fit more here. If you are brave enough to try something new, I guess you have to expect negitive feedback from traditionalist.
