Aluminium boat - how many cans?

[seansea]

I love the idea of an aluminium sailing boat but prices are out of my reach so What about using recycled cans and other scrap. How many cans or bits of aluminium would I need to build say build a 40 ft boat or to provide to the builder. Is this realistic idea or would they want to use new aluminium sheet? Perhaps the whole idea is a bit ‘out there’ but tell me is it feasible?

 

[RichardS]

This has got to be a wind-up, right?

Richard

 

[Boathook]

This has got to be a wind-up, right?

Richard

+1

Just a thought but what about a plastic boat from carrier bags or empty drinks bottles.

 

[prv]

Maybe Brent Swain would consider branching out from rusty steel?

Pete

 

[AngusMcDoon]

How many cans or bits of aluminium would I need to build say build a 40 ft boat or to provide to the builder.

89,284.

 

[[70521]]

I love the idea of an aluminium sailing boat but prices are out of my reach so What about using recycled cans and other scrap. How many cans or bits of aluminium would I need to build say build a 40 ft boat or to provide to the builder. Is this realistic idea or would they want to use new aluminium sheet? Perhaps the whole idea is a bit ‘out there’ but tell me is it feasible?

that would depend on the thickness of the can.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I love the idea of an aluminium sailing boat but prices are out of my reach so What about using recycled cans and other scrap. How many cans or bits of aluminium would I need to build say build a 40 ft boat or to provide to the builder. Is this realistic idea or would they want to use new aluminium sheet? Perhaps the whole idea is a bit ‘out there’ but tell me is it feasible?

A typical aluminium can weighs around 15g. An OVI 395 displaces 10,000kg, so assuming that 1/4 of that is hull, you'd need about 2,500kg of metal or 167,000 cans. However, the metal in the cans is far too thin and in far too small piece to use, so you'd have to melt it down, alloy it (cans are almost pure aluminium which is far too weak for a hull) cast it and process it into sheet.

 

[BobnLesley]

89,284.

So you're not allowing for any mid-ship cleats then?

 

[William_H]

We have had small ali sail boats built around here a long time back. Called a star not to be confused with that international class. Now I have no details but have the impression that they have all gone. Corrosion and a very noisy hull being 2 problems. By comparison GRP boats of the era still have useful lives. I am a fan of good old GRP and I don't think anything else can match it for ease of maintenance and long life. So get an old GRP and refurbish or if you must build then get a GRP ready made hull. ol'will

 

[Mr Cassandra]

An idea would be to buy a wooden boat and nail the aluminium cans to it.

 

[[70521]]

We have had small ali sail boats built around here a long time back. Called a star not to be confused with that international class. Now I have no details but have the impression that they have all gone. Corrosion and a very noisy hull being 2 problems. By comparison GRP boats of the era still have useful lives. I am a fan of good old GRP and I don't think anything else can match it for ease of maintenance and long life. So get an old GRP and refurbish or if you must build then get a GRP ready made hull. ol'will

DO take a look at modern aluminium boats they have changed out of all recognition. If I had a silly amount of cash I'd be hot footing it to Tréguier to buy a Boreal 47.

https://www.boreal-yachts.com/portfolio/le-boreal-47/?lang=en

 

[Yngmar]

Start counting:

 

[seansea]

Now there’s an idea ?

 

[seansea]

Thank you, great explanation. So basically I better get drinking now.. ?

 

[seansea]

Very nice indeed..

 

[vyv_cox]

I have read of projects in third world countries where recycled drinks cans were cast into useful objects and have met a man who cast G-cramps this way. I think a boat hull would be a very different matter, firstly because the preferred alloy contains magnesium and/or zinc but mostly because it is not cast but rolled sheet.

 

[Ric]

An idea would be to buy a wooden boat and nail the aluminium cans to it.

How many matchsticks would it take to make the wooden boat underneath?

 

[scruff]

How many matchsticks would it take to make the wooden boat underneath?

Matchsticks would take too long and be too fiddly. Better to use lollipop sticks.

 

[Seajet]

The Polynesians who found Easter Island and the rest of the Pacific & Australia would have thought that a luxury cruise liner.

Of course we don't have a record of how many tried and didn't make it.