Hull Material

Why aluminium 
TP Marine specialises in the construction of workboats and structures using high grade aluminium alloy, a material which has a wide range of advantages for commercial boat applications in a number of important areas: 

Design 
•No moulds are needed for aluminium hulls giving incredible flexibility in
  design and allowing boats to be configured to exactly match customer
  requirements 
•The high strength to weight ratio of aluminium allows much
  more   scope for the design to be optimised according to specific criteria 
 
In Build 
•Aluminium fabrication can be controlled to give uniform high quality with fully
  traceable materials
•Special extrusions and lightweight panels are readily available
•There is no lead time involved with producing moulds
•There is no requirement to paint aluminium (other than anti-fouling) 

Performance 
•Aluminium is considerably lighter than steel or GRP allowing for a higher
  payload and easier handling if being lifted on or off a mother ship
•Aluminium boats require less engine power and use less fuel than comparable
  size boats of steel 

In Service  
•Aluminium has a high resistance to impact, deforming to absorb energy rather
  than fracturing like GRP
•Aluminium craft are easily repaired and have low hull maintenance
•Aluminium has an excellent resistance to seawater and a long life
•Marine Grade alloys using magnesium such as those used to produce

 TP Marine’s  hull designs are very corrosion resistant. An oxide film forms on the
 surface of aluminium which is hard and reforms if broken giving excellent
 protection in the marine environment 

After Service  
•Boats made of aluminium have a higher residual value than other boats
•Aluminium is almost 100% recyclable Obviously some craft, benefit from lightweight composite construction and is the obvious choice in the leisure market for mass produced boats. For many working boats however, especially those which are weight critical, or which require customised designs, high payloads, robust construction and easy maintenance, aluminium scores heavily against any other material. It is most certainly already the material of choice for many operators and the material of the future in the case of many more.