Quote:
Originally Posted by Pawtuckett
Would an aluminum-skinned boat tail be feasible, cost-wise?
|
Aluminum,even salvaged from a metal recycling center can be pricey.
And to shape it for maximum drag reduction would require many,many,many hours/weeks/months with an English wheel,planisher,tree stump,leather shot bag,rawhide mallet,and assortment of body dollies.And there are many different grades of aluminum,and not all would be compatible to forming.
And you'd need a gas welding outfit to properly anneal the metal between stretching and bumping so as not to rupture it.
Straight,single-curve panels could be done (like Chevy VOLT).You'd have to figure out how to bond them together.Flush,bucking rivets can't always be reached from behind.Cherry makes flush pop-rivets for aircraft applications.You'd have to seal every rivet head.And you'd want to look at price.
Fiberglass is going to be hard to beat.