Materialized safety and speed at sea

The first ships were built of wood. Over time, sheet metal and copper plates were used to protect the wooden hulls. Beginning in the 19th century, mass production of steel ships began, especially in military and commercial shipbuilding. These older steel ships were safe and reliable, but heavier steel travels slower or requires more resources to increase speed. Therefore, lighter materials such as aluminum and fiberglass came into play.

Both aluminum and fiberglass are not only lightweight, but also quite durable, which is why they are often used for modern recreational boat building.

However, their properties are different, and any company that wants to build high-quality boats that meet the needs of their customers, must choose the best material. To make the right choice, you need to dive deeper into the properties and characteristics of the materials.

Each choice of material has advantages and disadvantages. A heavier boat has higher displacement resistance; it can carry more and has better seaworthiness. On the other end of the spectrum, a lighter boat can potentially increase speed and mobility. Aluminum is corrosion resistant, but may be too light for some applications. Fiberglass has plasticity, which makes it easier to shape, but is brittle for some applications. Therefore, your choice of material defines what type of shipbuilding architecture you will implement, what type of boats you will make, and what tasks those vessels can handle. Finding the right material means discovering the balance.

Aluminum

Aluminum is the most common base metal on earth. Light and silver in color, it is the most common metal that does not contain iron on earth. Therefore, aluminum is popular in shipbuilding. It allows the production of light and fairly durable boats. However, this material is very expensive.

The most popular aluminum alloys for use in corrosive environments such as seawater are the 5xxx and 6xxx series alloys, which have sufficient strength and good corrosion resistance. The traditional and most commonly used Al alloys in shipbuilding are the 5083-type Al-Mg alloy for plates and the 6082-type Al-Mg-Si alloy for sections. These alloys are generally reliable in maritime service as well as during fabrication.

Aluminum can be difficult to work with during fabrication and retrofit. There are not many professionals who know how to properly weld aluminum, and the equipment is not widely available. The material must be cleaned and prepared for welding. The welder must be aware of how thick the aluminum is to avoid burn-through. Because of its high sensitivity, the weld must be protected from air and dirt contamination. TIG and MIG welding, the two most popular methods of joining aluminum parts, as well as laser beam and electron beam welding, resistance welding and shielded metal arc welding all require complicated equipment.

However, aluminum is a reliable material for numerous applications that should be considered by boat builders looking for its specific advantages and willing to overlook its disadvantages.

Fiberglass is a composite material made from a plastic base and reinforced by glass fiber. The production of fiberglass uses various plastic materials such as epoxy, polyester resin, vinyl ester resin and can use a variety of fiber arrangements such as random arrangement, flat into a sheet or woven into a glass fabric. This material is lightweight, relatively strong and non-corrosive, but heavier than aluminum. The chemical basis for fiberglass is silica (glass) with additions of alumina, alkali oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, boric acid and other composites to create a variety of combinations and proportions. Many types of fiberglass are manufactured to meet different tasks. However, one of the major disadvantages of fiberglass is its susceptibility to mechanical stress.

There is no such thing as "marine fiberglass." One of the most common types of fiberglass used in shipbuilding is E-glass, which is aluminum borosilicate glass with less than 1% alkali dioxide. In the manufacture of fiberglass, silica (glass) is heated to its melting point and then pressed through fine holes to create extremely thin glass filaments. These filaments are woven into various patterns, and then various resins are applied to the woven material. During the process, fiberglass parts can be molded into desired shapes.

Due to its high plasticity and numerous applications, fiberglass is a relatively lightweight and durable material for boats. Although it responds well to the environment, it may not be easy to repair "in the field" if damaged. However, if the repair shop has all the necessary materials and equipment, the repair process is relatively simple.