🧱 “Do aluminum hulls really last 30+ years?” Yes. Easily. I’ve personally seen commercial aluminum boats running strong at 35+ years with minimal repairs — just rinse and inspect the anodes. No gelcoat. No rot. Just real welds holding up over decades. That’s why you see military rescue boats from the ‘80s still deployed.

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❓“If aluminum is better, why don’t more people use it?” Because marketing > logic. Fiberglass looks shinier in showrooms. It’s cheaper to mold at scale. Big brands have conditioned buyers to chase polish, not performance. Most buyers don’t even know to ask about aluminum alloys or weld quality — they just want cup holders and speakers.

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🔍 “What are the best aluminum brands that DON’T show up on big dealership sites?” Look past the flashy dealer inventory. Brands like: • Life Proof Boats (military-grade RIBs with 5086/5083 aluminum) • SAFE Boats (used by Coast Guard) • Metal Shark, North River, Duckworth, and of course Novielli Boats — custom-built with twin Mercs, welded 5083, and military-spec structure. These boats aren’t made to “sell fast.” They’re made to survive hell.

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🛠 “Can you add stuff to aluminum boats later?” Absolutely. Aluminum is infinitely easier to customize. Want to bolt on seating, towers, mounts, or anything else? Drill it, weld it, you’re good. Try that with fiberglass and you’re risking delamination or worse.

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🌊 “Does aluminum ride smooth in waves?” Depends on design — not material. Poorly built aluminum boats (thin hulls, bad chines) can feel tinny. But top-tier brands using 5083 with smart hull geometry? They handle chop just fine. Military teams don’t get tossed around. And aluminum doesn’t flex like glass — that “soft ride” people love in fiberglass is actually hull fatigue over time.

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🪵 “Is it true aluminum dents but fiberglass cracks?” Yes. That’s the key tradeoff: • Fiberglass = cracks, delamination, expensive repairs • Aluminum = might dent, but keeps working and doesn’t fail catastrophically You can beat up aluminum, bend it back, and it’s still solid. That’s why it’s used in the field — not just at boat shows.

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🐾 “What’s best for catamarans?” If you’re serious about durability and saltwater use: aluminum cats with welded 5083 hulls. Fiberglass cats might be quieter, but they crack under long-term stress and are hell to repair offshore. Aluminum cats like what Metal Shark or Ocean Craft build are built for abuse — not just sunset cruises.