Are these metal sheets viable for a basic hull?

[CABEZA DE VACA]

Hello,

I don't know anything about sailing, and I want to sail away!

We've got about 60 square feet of metal sheets laying out in the backyard, and I'm wondering if they would last in salt-water? I don't know very much about their material makeup, they're left over from an old project of my late dad's patio work.

Fridge magnet sticks so I'm guessing they aren't aluminum. They've held up good under extreme heat the last few years.

Thanks for your input.

 

[ondarvr]

The short answer in no.

You could probably make something that floats...for a short time in a pond, but it won't hold up long.

You need to do all the same work, and it will hold up for more than 15 minutes if you follow an existing plan with conventional materials. So don't waste your time and money.

The easiest way is to find something used that fits your need and desire, then go boating tomorrow. Wasting twice as much money and a year or so of patching it together, then have it fail immediately is very expensive.

 

[CABEZA DE VACA]

Thanks!

 

[Waterwitch]

This image is about the most elegant corrugated iron canoe I have seen. https://wilderlife.sfo3.digitalocea...2017/12/23205948/Iron-waka-e1513301951606.jpg

 

[SolGato]

Won’t last long, but that hasn’t stopped others.

As romantic as building from scratch is, there’s almost always a project fixer upper boat up for grabs cheap or even for free that might get you on the water sooner than later.

 

[Skip Johnson]

Robb White had a interesting chapter on building tin canoes in Flotsam and Jetsam, one of the favorites in my library.

 

[kapnD]

I built a tin canoe when I was a young teen, using a 2x4 to close the ends, and plastic roof cement as sealant.
Design was limited by the flexibility of the corrugated sheets, resulting in a very unstable craft!
My body and clothes absorbed a great deal of the tar!