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.
You only get one shot at life, Aim well
2004 D2 "S" V8 auto, with a few Mods gone
2007 79 Series Landcruiser V8 Ute, With a few Mods.
4.6m Quintrex boat
20' Jayco Expanda caravan gone
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
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.
Mines still fine.
If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.
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
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.
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
My brother makes aluminum canopies. He's not a fan of fiberglass.
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