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Aluminum hull sailing yacht safety above all
Safety is undoubtedly the primary reason for choosing aluminum. In bluewater cruising passages are long weather can be unpredictable and sailing areas may be poorly charted with the risk of unexpected encounters or even navigating in ice. The requirement for strength becomes even more critical in such demanding programs. Aspiring circumnavigators are therefore reassured by the proven robustness of an aluminum hull.
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Excellent shock absorption capacity
One of aluminum’s major advantages lies in its mechanical behaviour. More ductile than composite materials it can deform without sudden failure when subjected to significant loads. This ability to absorb impact energy is a decisive advantage against the hazards encountered at sea where more rigid materials such as GRP composites may crack or fail abruptly.
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Structural safety in the face of unforeseen situations
It is precisely in unforeseen situations that aluminum provides greater safety and peace of mind. Recent cases of interactions with orcas in the North Atlantic offer a clear example repeated and forceful impacts on the rudders place sudden loads on the hull. Composite materials cannot effectively absorb such shocks and may ultimately delaminate or fail potentially leading to water ingress.
Above all on a Garcia aluminum sailboat the rudder stock tube through which the rudder shaft passes is welded directly to the hull. The rudders themselves are also made of ultra resistant aluminum. The risk of damage caused by orcas is therefore extremely low on a Garcia bluewater yacht.
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Proven choices in shipbuilding
Aluminum grades are differentiated according to their composition properties and recommended uses. Identified by series they include for example:
- Aluminum alloys in the 1000 series, which are more than 99% pure, are the preferred choice for electronics and packaging.
- The 2000 series (aluminum copper alloy) is preferred by the aerospace industry.
- The 5000 series aluminum (alloys aluminum magnesium and manganese) offer high mechanical strength good weldability and excellent corrosion resistance making them particularly well suited for marine applications.<br>
At Garcia Yachts, 6005, 6060 and 6082 alloys known for their high rigidity particularly in extrusions are used for the structural elements of our aluminum monohulls frames longitudinals floors and reinforcements. These alloys are therefore found in the extruded profiles and machined components that form the yacht structure.
The 5000 series alloys, which are highly ductile—a must for forming a hull without a sheer—are used for the plating, or outer skin, of the hull. They also provide very high mechanical strength, even when welded.
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Understanding the mechanical strength of aluminum
The mechanical strength of a material is commonly expressed in megapascals MPa a unit used to quantify the stress it can withstand. One MPa corresponds to the pressure of a force of 10 kilograms applied over one square centimetre. 320 MPa therefore represents for example the pressure of 320 tonnes applied over one square metre. However this strength is not defined by a single value. It is assessed through several parameters including the yield strength Re the threshold beyond which the material undergoes permanent deformation and the tensile strength Rm or UTS which corresponds to the maximum load before failure.
Aluminum offers a particularly well balanced relationship between these two values allowing it to absorb significant loads while maintaining a progressive and predictable behaviour.
Aluminum and composite: two very different behaviors
In the event of an impact a ductile aluminum hull will dissipate energy and in the case of a very severe shock may deform and show visible distortion such as a dent. This is a progressive but clear and controlled response with no impact on safety.
By contrast composite materials being more rigid behave differently. Their strength depends heavily on the thickness of the skins and the nature of the sandwich core. When their limit is reached failure can be sudden with cracking or localized delamination.
Mechanical strength values
For a hull, strength depends not only on the characteristics of the material, but also on the thickness of the plates, their shape, and the internal structure. The thicker and more rigid a plate is, the better it is able to distribute stress and absorb the energy of an impact.
On aluminum sailboats designed for blue water cruising, thicknesses vary depending on the area: greater in the bottom and underwater hull, reinforced around structural elements, and optimized on the above-water hull. Combined with a hull and stiffened hull, this design significantly enhances the overall strength of the yacht.
The importance of thickness and structure
On the aluminum sailboats built by the French shipyard Garcia Yachts depending on the model hull thickness ranges from 8 to 10 mm for the bottom and underwater sections from 10 to 12 mm for internal reinforcements and from 5 to 6 mm for the topsides.
With a tensile strength of over 300 MPa, more than 300 tons would need to be applied to 1 m² to cause breakage.
Robustness compatible with performance
With a density of around 2.7 g per cubic centimetre aluminum is significantly lighter than steel at 7.85 and remains close to composites at 1.5 to 2. However to achieve optimal strength an aluminium hull does not require the same thickness as composite nor heavy reinforcements. It can achieve a comparable or even lower weight than a traditional composite hull particularly on yachts over 40 feet. Designed by renowned French naval architect Olivier Racoupeau their shaped hull form is another guarantee of performance.
It can achieve a comparable or even lower weight than a traditional composite hull particularly on yachts over 40 feet.
A durable and recyclable material
Beyond its mechanical properties aluminum is a durable material. It is infinitely recyclable without any loss of performance and the aluminum used by the Garcia Yachts shipyard is produced from 80 percent recycled material. When properly maintained an aluminum hull retains its characteristics for several decades and offers excellent resistance to corrosion in a marine environment.
The aluminum used by the Garcia Yachts shipyard is produced from 80 percent recycled material.
Repairable anywhere in the world
Ease of repair is another key advantage of aluminum sailboat. Repairs can be carried out by a skilled welder even in areas far from major yachting centres. Simple and effective repairs can be implemented without keeping the yacht immobilised for long periods.
By contrast repairs on a composite hull often require specific expertise specialized materials resins chemical catalysts and precise environmental conditions such as controlled temperature and humidity levels.
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The aluminum hull: the choice of peace of mind
Choosing an aluminum sailboat means choosing peace of mind and a boat designed to support ambitious long term projects. Reliable strong durable and repairable aluminum provides the confidence needed to sail far for long periods and across all latitudes.
This demanding approach, based on safety, durability, and performance, is at the heart of the Garcia spirit: designing sailboats capable of taking their crews anywhere with complete confidence.
Discover all our aluminum bluewater sailing yacht models: Exploration 45 - Exploration 52 - Exploration 60 - Explocat522
