Our aluminium boats evolved in Northern Botswana to service the tourist industry. The parameters required were for a practical work boat to carry big loads through shallow waters over long distances with as light a fuel consumption as possible. The aesthetics of the boats was a secondary consideration. The finish and styling of our current range of hulls is as important to us as all the other design parameters.

The hulls are built out of a very hard grade aluminium alloy 1.6 mm to 10 mm thick (depending on the use of the hull) to give a lightweight, durable boat with a very high load capacity on lower horse power and fuel consumption. Aluminium is the chosen material because of the increased usable space in the boat relative to other materials. A well designed ali hull has almost double the useful space of a comparable size Fiberglas boat.

Aluminium tends to dent and deform on impact - retaining water tight integrity - as opposed to shattering and breaking as with other materials. Sharp objects ( hippo teeth, rocks, etc ) will puncture aluminium but this is normally easy to repair in the field with silicone, pop rivets and a plate of galvanized iron or similar.

As well as the above attributes a big consideration in most of these applications is the durability of the hulls - an almost indefinite life span. The correct grade of aluminium will not corrode in salt water or be affected by extreme temperatures and harsh sunlight; it will not degrade like fibreglass or the various materials rubber ducks are made of.

Aluminium boats do not go out of "style" or out of "fashion" simply because they are not a "fashion" item to begin with. Boats built by ourselves 15 years ago are still "in fashion" aluminium work boats. We do not try to compete with the fancy finishes and "glitter boat" image that can be achieved with on a fibreglass hull - but we do offer better all round value.

To-day we build hulls for many applications including; the tourism and related industries, pleasure and commercial fishing boats, family fun boats, portable "car top" boats, military/police/game department/etc. patrol vessels, rescue boats, bass fishing boats, water taxies, river & lake cargo transport boats & barges, car ferries, sundown cruisers, sturdy & durable off shore work and fishing boats, and many more.

We have hulls working successfully in Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Tanzania, and the Maldives!!

Aluminium Trailer

Aliboats build an "all aluminium" trailer which is very suitable for repeated and continuous use in salt water. A galvanised trailer will eventually succumb to corrosion in the sea - our "submersible trailer" will last "for ever.