Custom Aluminum Bay Boat

[I make oil]

Keakar, I'm sorry but I don't agree with the comment on just welding a crack on an aluminum boat. It dosen't work that way. To be honest that is the main reason I've moved away from custom boats. When an aluminum boat hull cracks it's usally at a rib. It does this for a few reason mainly because the rib was welded to the side or bottom and the heat caused that point to be more brittle than the area around it and it becomes a weak spot. Over time it will crack. You can't just weld these cracks if you do it will just crack again because of the heat. They usually put a patch over it. Look at older skiffs they are the worse. Many times you'll see patches over most of the ribs along the side. If the patches are on the bottom it messes with the performance of the boat. Most crawfishermen just keep a boat for a few years then sell it and have another one built. Recreational use isn't as hard on boats but it still is an issue.

Casey StRomain owns Sportsman's Fab in MC and built Parker 23's boat. His dad Ivy, owns Ivy's tackle box, runs charters and uses a fiberglass center console.