HULL MATERIAL

Displacement hulls are able to carry more cargo, have large range, are slower, use less fuel, have a more comfortable ride, and have greater volume than planing hulls. Planing hulls carry less cargo, have less range, are faster, use more fuel, are less comfortable, and have less volume than planing hulls. Ship hulls are made from steel or aluminum or fiberglass (glass reinforced plastic or GRP) or wood. These are the only materials that are used. Some prefer aluminum, no one uses wood anymore, some prefer fiberglass, and some ship builders prefer Steel. Steel corrodes at a faster rate than other materials but is the strongest in being able to withstand impacts from floating debris and rocks. Aluminum also corrodes from saltwater but has less drag (friction) in comparison to steel. Wood is just out of the question to be used as no one uses it anymore. Fiberglass does not corrode like steel or aluminum but fiberglass is not able to withstand any impact or dent. Fiberglass does become brittle and crack eventually in saltwater. The only Ship Hull material that does not corrode like steel or aluminum is Copper. No one uses Copper anymore but ancient ship builders did in fact use Copper Hulls. Nothing sticks to Copper. Copper can withstand dents and impacts. Copper does not corrode in saltwater like steel or aluminum but has the disadvantage of being vulnerable to pitting. It is the perfect material for building Ships, yet no one builds ships using Copper.