Aluminum Studs for stringers

[gore]

Has anyone ever used aluminum studs for stringers in a fiberglass boat?? Good idea or not?? Lets discuss this shale we.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Aluminum Studs for stringers

Where are you going to get aluminum studs? I have never seen aluminum studs but I have seen steel studs in walls.

Never mind.....

Your stringers are not flat pieces and they are normally made to fit the contour of the hull. I would think making the stringers from aluminum would be too much money and too much time unless you already own a business that does aluminum fabrication.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Aluminum Studs for stringers

I would think that the rigidity of the aluminum would not be a god match for mating up with fiberglass. Also, I do not know how well the aluminum would take glass and resin to glass in the aluminum and have it become part of the hull. Maybe someone else will have more insight, but I do not think it is a good idea....

 

[gore]

Re: Aluminum Studs for stringers

lol I thought they where made out of aluminum not steel oh well stick to wood I guess.

 

[Shife]

Re: Aluminum Studs for stringers

This is possible, but has to be done very carefully. One of the boats I race on has aluminum stringers with an aluminum grid structure that the keel ties into. The hull is a combination of kevlar and E-glass. This boat was designed to use this aluminum grid from the start. Retrofitting an aluminum grid into a glass boat designed for wood stringers would be difficult and expensive. The laminate schedule and stringer design of a fiberglass boat isn't something you can just change on the fly without a sound understanding of naval architecture.

 

[ghamby]

Re: Aluminum Studs for stringers

I can see why you are looking for an alternative to wood.
Something along this line might serve you better. I first ran across this in large
electrical enclosures. Machining this product is dusty and itchy, suit up if you
go this route. GH
http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastics/=49ukv1

http://www.strongwell.com/products/pultruded_prod/custom_pultrusions/custom_album.htm check photo #7