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Re: Aluminum kayak?
By:David Dick
Date: 12/22/2000, 1:03 am
In Response To: Aluminum kayak? (H. Kellerman)

I hope you build it. I think it is an interesting idea. If you have the gear and experience to weld thin Al without warping you are most of the way home. It may be a problem getting the 5000 series alloys in thin enough sheets. The 2000, 6000, and 7000 series alloys come in thin sheets but are subject to corrosion. You could always fit a sacrificial anode.

Besides the noise and cold problems, it may be that Aluminum is too strong and dense to be optimum for kayak building. You could find that the thickness that provides enough strength "oil cans" too much, while increasing the thickness to avoid this results in a heavy boat. I don't have numbers, just suspicions.

Let us know what you come up with.

Messages In This Thread

Aluminum kayak?
H. Kellerman -- 12/20/2000, 5:42 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Chick Gregg -- 12/22/2000, 8:57 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Jim -- 1/4/2001, 2:01 am
Corrosion
Dale Frolander -- 12/23/2000, 1:38 am
Re: No Problem
Ian Johnston -- 12/22/2000, 2:22 am
Re: Aluminum kayak?
David Dick -- 12/22/2000, 1:03 am
Re: Aluminum kayak?
George Roberts -- 12/21/2000, 7:13 pm
Al. kayak should be feasible -- go for it
Paul G. Jacobson -- 12/21/2000, 3:19 am
corrosion link
Dave Murphy -- 12/21/2000, 1:06 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Val -- 12/20/2000, 8:00 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Ralph Merriman -- 12/20/2000, 7:12 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Chick Gregg -- 12/24/2000, 2:15 am
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Greg Stamer -- 12/20/2000, 7:37 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Dale Frolander -- 12/20/2000, 9:37 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Eric Schade (shearwater boats) -- 12/20/2000, 6:44 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Mike Scarborough -- 12/23/2000, 7:53 am
Re: Aluminum kayak, Why?
Tony -- 12/20/2000, 6:31 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
mike allen -- 12/20/2000, 6:07 pm
stitching aluminum
mike allen -- 12/22/2000, 1:41 pm
Re: Aluminum kayak?
Ben Staley -- 12/20/2000, 6:17 pm