Visit our Popular Forums

videorov · 09-03-2013, 13:34

Ive see a few Cats that are built from Aluminum in hulls and decks.
Just wonder how they hold up compared to fiberglass. They seem to have
electronic systems that can monitor aluminum nowadays for corrosion.

videorov · 10-03-2013, 14:11

Must not be to many Aluminum owners out there?

Jimbo485 · 10-03-2013, 15:52

Check out the Easton cats. You may want to google aluminium, not aluminum. There are various pros and cons but I would also be interested to hear more 1st hand comments from alum cat owners. Our next boat may very well be an alum. cat.

Factor · 10-03-2013, 16:20

In this part of the world Peter Kerr - Lizard Yachts, Owen easton and Tim Mumby all do Aluminium Cats. There are some other older designs/builds as well, including Fitzgibbon. I have seen a number of Peter's and Owen's boats when they had a quite a few years on them, and they all looked pretty good, they key is hunting down dissimilar metals and ensuring that even a dropped safety pin is picked up.

I have seen a few Mumby's as well - but not of the same age, and they all looked really nice as well. I wouldn't have any hesitation in buying one that had been properly looked after, but only from about 13 meters upward. Thats about where the weight/length equation starts to work.

Lizard Yahts

Easton Cats

Story about the build of a Mumby

Redreuben · 10-03-2013, 22:49

Ally boats. Otherwise known as Aspirins !

**roverhi** · 10-03-2013, 23:10

Water World anyone?? What was that Boat in that movie?? Not pushing the movie just curious about the boat. Hear Aluminum is not weight competitive with vacuum bagged cored FRP and exotic textiles till you get above 50'

Lagoon4us · 10-03-2013, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Factor

In this part of the world Peter Kerr - Lizard Yachts, Owen easton and Tim Mumby all do Aluminium Cats. There are some other older designs/builds as well, including Fitzgibbon. I have seen a number of Peter's and Owen's boats when they had a quite a few years on them, and they all looked pretty good, they key is hunting down dissimilar metals and ensuring that even a dropped safety pin is picked up.

I have seen a few Mumby's as well - but not of the same age, and they all looked really nice as well. I wouldn't have any hesitation in buying one that had been properly looked after, but only from about 13 meters upward. Thats about where the weight/length equation starts to work.

Lizard Yahts

Easton Cats

Story about the build of a Mumby

Where is 'MOOLOOLABA FIRETRUCK ' these days?????

bill good · 10-03-2013, 23:42

Stay away from amateur built or built in the open. Welding is critical.

Snowpetrel · 11-03-2013, 03:40

I guess the engineering at the high stressed bridge deck-hull connections would want to be pretty good, otherwise a combination of fatigue and strength reduction due to welding could cause problems on older boats?

Saying that I have a 33 year old alloy mono and there is no sign of fatigue cracks except in two places on deck where the 3mm plate flexed slightly over a beam. And no sign of any disprin like activity underwater or in the bilges, just a wee bit of fizzing under some deck fittings.

**atoll** · 11-03-2013, 03:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

I guess the engineering at the high stressed bridge deck-hull connections would want to be pretty good, otherwise a combination of fatigue and strength reduction due to welding could cause problems on older boats?

Saying that I have a 33 year old alloy mono and there is no sign of fatigue cracks except in two places on deck where the 3mm plate flexed slightly over a beam. And no sign of any disprin like activity underwater or in the bilges, just a wee bit of fizzing under some deck fittings.

i guess this must be why they have started building aeroplanes out of fiberglass instead

Factor · 11-03-2013, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redreuben

Ally boats. Otherwise known as Aspirins !

Which is why the ferry I caught today was aluminium, the water police boat we passed is aluminium and the Coast Gurad boat I used to volunteer on for rescues is aluminium. They really are unreliable.

Snowpetrel · 11-03-2013, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by atoll

i guess this must be why they have started building aeroplanes out of fiberglass instead

Ha. Thats true. Mind you the high stress components on aircraft are pretty carefully watched for fatique and replaced at a set number of cycles.

I guess on a well built multi most of the loads are taken on well rounded and reinforced bulkheads Rather than a welded corner in the skin.

I sailed an alloy mono with some worrying cracks where the floors were welded into the keel. She also had fatigue issues on her chainplates. Two holes completely pulled out in a knockdown.

Sand crab · 11-03-2013, 08:26

FWIW
The famous french catamaran sailor Antoine has been on his aluminum cat for decades. Well, he's famous to the french anyway. He makes a living doing lectures and selling dvds of his exploits. He's also a singer.
BANANA 43 tests PROMETA BOAT SYSTEM catamarans and trimarans boat reviews, catamarans and trimarans specification | Multihulls World
Yapluka is the only other production builder of alu cats. They recently went under but they may be coming back. Big cats only for them. Big bucks for us.