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Thread: aluminium vs fibreglass

  1. #11
    DiscoMick Guest
    I think the comparison would be with caravans, not boats. Caravan manufacturers are moving from aluminum to composite construction, so that could be a model to investigate their reasons for the change.

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dorian View Post
    Fiberglass boats slide up the beach a lot better than Ali boats.
    So they would be easier to get on.
    HeHe
    I drove an 18 foot Bertram up the beach once and had a hell of a time getting it back in the water.
    You only get one shot at life, Aim well

    2004 D2 "S" V8 auto, with a few Mods gone
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    I sat a 20 footer on a reef once, no holes and lucky on a rising tide. Hour later we were fishing again. Happened when we got a tripple hook up going through a 4m gap between two semi submerged reefs. Had did the same move hundreds of times but got caught that day, took a couple hours to fix the scaring
    cheers
    blaze

  4. #14
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    aluminium vs fibreglass

    Quote Originally Posted by DiscoMick View Post
    I think the comparison would be with caravans, not boats. Caravan manufacturers are moving from aluminum to composite construction, so that could be a model to investigate their reasons for the change.
    Almost all manufacturers moved away from aluminium years ago and went to timber - claiming it lasted longer and flexed better but it was only due to cost cutting. You should see see how many 5 to 10 year old vans have significant rot in them as most don’t get sealed properly either. Composite panels now are cheaper again than making timber frames as the labour involved is much less - by a pre made Chinese panel, cut some holes in it, fit windows and install on chassis. Don’t think for a minute there’s a manufacturer out there that spends a cent more than they need to on a van to maximise profits. The industry is rotten to its core here in Australia and there are only a few decent new vans to be had now. Most ‘off road’ vans you buy now will have the warranty voided if you take them off the bitumen. Any sign of mud or dust underneath or in any nook or cranny when it goes back for repairs will see the owner being told to sod off as far as warranty is concerned. There’s only 2 I know of that warrant their vans off road which I won’t mention here as owners of anything else will probably jack up but I would urge them to check the fine print carefully.

    Oh, and Franklin were making composite walled vans in the late 60’s through to the early 80’s in Ballarat so it’s not a new idea either. Back then everyone laughed and said they would fall apart before they were towed home, but more examples still exist of these than any other make from that era and the walls are still stuck together like **** to a blanket.

    Get back to me with your new van in 45 years and let me know how it’s going. aluminium vs fibreglass

    Mines still fine. aluminium vs fibreglass
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  5. #15
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    Hi,
    Son No2 has a 50 year old timber (Oregon?) framed, Aluminium skinned van. Made in Ballarat and some obscure brand that I can't remember at the moment.
    It is in remarkably good nick.
    Cheers

  6. #16
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    Probably meranti. Ballarat was home to numerous caravan builders from the 60’s to the 80’s when the arse fell out of the market and caravanning became uncool. All of the old Aussie builders shut up shop. If they could have held out just a few more years until the market came back we’d have some great old companies now but they all went. Names like Franklin now aren’t the original manufacturers - they just bought the name and started from scratch. No records or anything exist from the old builders unfortunately. In their heyday the big brands like Viscount, Millard, Franklin and others were pumping out nearly 10,000 units a year each - some more. One of the reasons there are still so many about - there were 100’s of 1000’s built during the 70’s.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  7. #17
    DiscoMick Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Homestar View Post
    Almost all manufacturers moved away from aluminium years ago and went to timber - claiming it lasted longer and flexed better but it was only due to cost cutting. You should see see how many 5 to 10 year old vans have significant rot in them as most don’t get sealed properly either. Composite panels now are cheaper again than making timber frames as the labour involved is much less - by a pre made Chinese panel, cut some holes in it, fit windows and install on chassis. Don’t think for a minute there’s a manufacturer out there that spends a cent more than they need to on a van to maximise profits. The industry is rotten to its core here in Australia and there are only a few decent new vans to be had now. Most ‘off road’ vans you buy now will have the warranty voided if you take them off the bitumen. Any sign of mud or dust underneath or in any nook or cranny when it goes back for repairs will see the owner being told to sod off as far as warranty is concerned. There’s only 2 I know of that warrant their vans off road which I won’t mention here as owners of anything else will probably jack up but I would urge them to check the fine print carefully.

    Oh, and Franklin were making composite walled vans in the late 60’s through to the early 80’s in Ballarat so it’s not a new idea either. Back then everyone laughed and said they would fall apart before they were towed home, but more examples still exist of these than any other make from that era and the walls are still stuck together like **** to a blanket.

    Get back to me with your new van in 45 years and let me know how it’s going. aluminium vs fibreglass

    Mines still fine. aluminium vs fibreglass
    Sounds like my BIL who recently bought one of the best known imported camper trailers and has since had to try to seal the water leaks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by JDNSW View Post
    Propely designed, weight should be about the same for both materials with the same strength. Fibreglass is probably easier to repair, as suggested,but suffers more from deterioration due to exposure to sunlight - aluminium is unaffected.

    Unless insulated, you will get condensation in alloy canopies. Fibreglass is easier to build with compound curves, and so is likely to be stronger. Alloy will be noisier as a general rule.

    My preference would be alloy, simply due to its stability when subjected to sunlight, but this does not mean I would not end up buying a fibreglass one because the design was better!
    I've had 25 + years experience in fibreglass, everything from all aspects of surfboards and windsurfers to vac bagged racing yachts.

    Gel coated finishes are pretty easy to protect from sunlight with products like Poli Glow. I've seen some horribly chalky boats come up like new with this stuff and have been kept that way.

    Spent a lot of time on commercial cray boats as well, aly and f/g.

    F/g generally rides smoother when conditions are less than 'ideal', are quieter and don't have condensation all over everything inside and out. Modifications and repairs don't require access to 3 phase power and there is no problem with electrolysis.

    Aluminium is great where surfaces are subject to constant wear, like electrofishing boats in rivers being caressed over rocks. A few scratches and dents don't matter.

    cheers, DL

  9. #19
    DiscoMick Guest
    My brother makes aluminum canopies. He's not a fan of fiberglass.

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by DiscoMick View Post
    My brother makes aluminum canopies. He's not a fan of fiberglass.
    Is that because he makes aluminium canopiesaluminium vs fibreglass

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