Re: price of aluminum????
Aluminum is a commodity traded on the market daily so prices change from day to day, year to year. For rigid alloy structural grade I am currently paying 81.00 for one 4' x 8' x .080". A bulk price in the NE US is 25 sheets at 64.00 each. We purchase direct from Reynolds. Price breaks start at 5 sheets but its small, 25 sheets is our norm and about the best price until you get to 100. <br /><br />If you don't have someone you can purchase through like SeaDawg suggests (that would be your best bet) try some commercial businesses that use the material. Of course you will be #3 in the chain and everyone will mark it up a bit for their overhead. <br /><br />Many large commercial material suppliers will sell one sheet at Will Call - CASH (no delivery) call around. But such a small quantity and no running account you will pay more maybe 100.00. But it's a one time shot and think what it is for.<br /><br />Unless the aluminum structure inside your boat is flat you will need to build a skeleton square tube frame for a substructure (.025 to .040 max). I did this once on a quote "flat bottom" boat but it wasn't flat. It's difficult requiring a pattern and good mathmatical skills.<br /><br />What you are planning is a great idea, I loved my deck and you will too. Once completed you will be glad you spent the time and money. Oh by the way I had a welder friend help too, he did most of the math required for the frame. Thats another good idea, they do this type of thing all the time it's a snap for them.<br /><br />One last thing of course thicker would be better .100 would be great and not add that much weight. But you can definately get away with .080 or even .064 with the right frame, square tube about 12" to 16" on centers. Many jon boats use .064 and .080. Here are numbers for jon boats from brochures I have:<br /><br />10' Crestliner .050<br />12' Crestliner .063<br />14' & 16' Crestliner .080<br /><br />12' Tracker .063<br />15' Tracker .072<br />18' Tracker .072<br /><br />Semi V's and V's .080 to .100<br /><br />Goog luck with your project and I hope this helps.<br /><br />
<br /><br />PS carpet makes it seem thicker more stable and takes the noise out.<br /><br />PPS after posting I couldn't help but think about that weekend we put that deck in. I was lucky I purchased extra square tube, mistakes were made. One I'm laughing at maybe one day I'll post it on "Stupid Human Tricks..." The other thing we never did get it
PERFECTLY flat but I was the only one who could tell and I didn't...tell that is!
