What thickness did you use for underskinning?

[rhino_160]

Looks like I am going to bite the bullet and underskin the toon. What style and thickness is everyone using in aluminum? The 3003 or 5052? .05 thickness or thicker? I am going to use the SS screws in case i ever need to remove it. Also, what prices are you paying per sheet? I will try Lowes but may be cheaper online? Thanks in advance

 

[steelespike]

I saw a Video comparison of before and after skinning.Basic result was little or no speed improvement but better comfort and
handling result.I do wonder if it may improve heavy load responce?
I feel the Water Glide is a better choice. Videos show a pontoon responding like a runabout.
It is said they have a computer program that can assure the Glide is properly placed and I believe it is considered a DIY project.

 

[rhino_160]

Yeah I would like to have a glider but i don't want to drop another $2000 if I don't have to. Bringing the toon to the marine shop to see about upgrading from a 70hp to a 115hp. Hoping that and skinning can boost my speed a noticeable amount.
Although, reading on their site it says something about a kit that includes the glider and under skinning material. Not sure If that means enough aluminum to fully skin the toon or not

 

[HotTommy]

rhino,
I got 0.05" aluminum 5052 in 4' x 10' sheets for a little under $100 per sheet from my local metal work / machine shop. I had requested 3003 but their supplier didn't have it and offered the 5052 for the same price. I used self drilling SS screws and after a summer of use I noted only two that had backed out a bit. I cut the sheets using a pneumatic shear. It produced a nice flat edge. I did not butt the sheets together, but overlapped them with the front sheet covering the back to prevent water from peeling them back. ... Because I changed engines at the same time, I can't comment on how much difference the skinning made to speed.

 

[steelespike]

How many sheets did it take?

 

[HotTommy]

Short answer: 3 sheets. Longer answer: The space between logs was exactly 4' wide and the boat is 24' long. But the space between the logs widens as the logs narrow to a point at the front. Working from back to front, the first sheet had to be trimmed at one end to fit around the engine pod. The middle sheet went in whole and brought the skin to within 46" of the front. That allowed me to orient the last sheet with the longer dimension running side to side, and trim it to fit between the logs. ... The only reliable way to know how much you will need is to measure all the widths and locations of the cross members. The sheets will need to overlap at a cross member so there is something solid to screw both sheets to. That means you may not be able to use every last inch of every sheet. A reasonably good scale drawing of the boat and the sheets helped me a lot.