*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
I just found out that my father’s day present from my daughter will be a 14-foot aluminum skiff, 15hp outboard, and trailer. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Really it is just what I need as I have trouble with my 19 foot deep "V" in the flats and shallow water. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] (She bought the boat at an estate sale, and says that the outfit looks brand new even though it is 12? years old, and has spent most of its life in a garage).
Of course its just like getting a new Lab puppy, I can't wait to try it out. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] But my question is this. What do you have to do to operate a riveted aluminum boat in salt/brackish water? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] Paint the Hull? Add extra zincs? Or do like you do with an outboard flush and wash it down after every use.
Red [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
I would make sure you have a zinc bolted to clean metal on the outside of the hull (like on the transom). On my last boat, I used half a rudder zinc. If you keep it on a trailer, just hose the hull off after every trip.
Also, watch your trailer. If it is painted tubular steel, I would get rid of it now, before using it in salt water, and relace it with either a trailer made of channel steel, or a trailer with galvanized steel (channel preferred, then tubular). I used my painted tubular steel trailer in salt water, tried to wash the inside of the frame as best I could, but it rusted out within a year. If it's open channel, you can wash it off and visually inspect it for corrosion.
quote:Originally posted by Drydocked:
I would make sure you have a zinc bolted to clean metal on the outside of the hull (like on the transom). On my last boat, I used half a rudder zinc. If you keep it on a trailer, just hose the hull off after every trip.
Also, watch your trailer. If it is painted tubular steel, I would get rid of it now, before using it in salt water, and relace it with either a trailer made of channel steel, or a trailer with galvanized steel (channel preferred, then tubular). I used my painted tubular steel trailer in salt water, tried to wash the inside of the frame as best I could, but it rusted out within a year. If it's open channel, you can wash it off and visually inspect it for corrosion.
I second that.
Have fun with the boat! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Inkahoots, make sure your son reads this thread also. (If you don't have a son, go get one).
When my wife goes fishing with me, we can't take my pick-up, as she says the ride is too rough, its too high to get in and out off, and the set is two hard. We have been using her Cadillac. After our fishing trip to H--L where we had so much trailer trouble that we called off the trip and returned home, he decided that I really shouldn't be pullinga boat with a Cadillac.
He has given me a 2-door, 1978 Pontiac, Bonneville, Brougham, with a 400 engine to use as a tow vehicle. It's in his name and he even pays for the insurance. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Its an awesome tow vehicle, and tows my 19 footer at 75MPH on the interstate in cruse control. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
Now I do have to let him borrow the boat occasionally. I also have to take care off, and feed his two Labs. But what are two more Labs, added to the three I already have? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
quote:Originally posted by Red Rider:
Inkahoots, make sure your son reads this thread also. (If you don't have a son, go get one).
When my wife goes fishing with me, we can't take my pick-up, as she says the ride is too rough, its too high to get in and out off, and the set is two hard. We have been using her Cadillac. After our fishing trip to H--L where we had so much trailer trouble that we called off the trip and returned home, he decided that I really shouldn't be pullinga boat with a Cadillac.
He has given me a 2-door, 1978 Pontiac, Bonneville, Brougham, with a 400 engine to use as a tow vehicle. It's in his name and he even pays for the insurance. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Its an awesome tow vehicle, and tows my 19 footer at 75MPH on the interstate in cruse control. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
Now I do have to let him borrow the boat occasionally. I also have to take care off, and feed his two Labs. But what are two more Labs, added to the three I already have? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Do you realize that you switched genders half way through that post. I had to read it twice to make sure I was not going nutz.
Dang [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] my post is missing a couple of sentences. It was supposed to have included the fact that my son was with us (my wife and I). Also missing was the part that said my son has an interest in a small used car dealership, which is where he got the Pontiac. And yes my son does borrow that boat, occasionally.
I guess I must add an "Aw Sh--" to my awards now.
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]
In addition to the great advice you just received about washing down or adding a zinc, you can also rinse the interior deck with left over soap and water. You can give that boat a dose of baking soda and water once in a while from a 5 gallon bucket to cleanse the inside of the metal which you cant get at under a floor.I was told it will help neutralize the oxidation process in salt water. A little overkill , but it does kind of make you wonder. Good luck and go get em'in the skinny water.
Be careful of taking that boat out in rough water. They are very nice , easy to deal with boats, but it doesn't take much seas to get a hull breech. I have already posted my story before, but once I was only about 2-2.5 miles offshore when an afternoon storm came up. By the time I made it back I had lost 2 bulkheads (cut almost in 2) plus plenty of messed up rivits.
Oh and the other posters are right about the trailer. I had the boat on tubular painted red trailer. I don't think painted trailers will last
very long in salt/brackish water. It didn't take long for that paint to start peeling right off.
Congrats-
Listen, don't worry about zinc this and paint that. The weak spot on a riveted alum boat is the floor ribs. Look at them carefully. If you see hairline fracturers, have them fixed immeadiatly. When one rib splits it puts tourque on the next rib untill you split 4 or 5 of them, right up the hull. It's cheap to fix one or two. If you have an alum rivited hull it only a question of when- not if they will split. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
