How thick to build a boat and will it hold up for a couple years at least??

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I'm wanting to build a boat next winter and well I have asked a few on here about boat building but thought I'd start a thread on this to see what others may have to offer. Right now thinking of 13.6 foot by 42-46 bottom which hadn't decided on the width just yet. Right now i'm thinking .100 on bottom and .80 on sides or should i make it all out of .80? This will be a flat bottom boat and will have some chimes bent into the bottom just not sure how many maybe four chimes. Planing to hang a suped up 75 evinrude short shaft on it with a tiller. This hull thickness do you think it will be thick enough or to thick?? I want it light but strong, I plan on running braces half the boat width wise and the last 4 foot or so the braces will be length wise.I am building for one purpose only which is to go as fast I can in a straight line. I plan to drag race it with a local club.What do yall think about the thickness of the boat? to thick? I've searched a lot online and I have learned a ton but am starting to wonder if this maybe to thick of aluminum.PS: I asked the same questions on another forum just trying to get all the info I can. I know this forum I have seen a few more people seem to have more experience in boatingThanksChris
Reply:I think you have a typo.... I doubt I'd call sides that are .80, or more than 3/4" thick, "light". That is unless you are building an Iowa class battleship .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I think I'd look at how the other 'Drag' boats are made, that will give ya a sense of direction on hull/bottom thickness. I've owned 2 aluminum boats, a 16' and 21' built by Valco out of clovis Ca. Both were .100 bottoms and .080 sides. Fished both hard in the ocean with minimal ware and tear. If your talkin' canal drags I would think .10 and .08 would be a bit light. The more important thing is design/engineering of your hull. Just my .02 cents
Reply:Originally Posted by J-WI think I'd look at how the other 'Drag' boats are made, that will give ya a sense of direction on hull/bottom thickness. I've owned 2 aluminum boats, a 16' and 21' built by Valco out of clovis Ca. Both were .100 bottoms and .080 sides. Fished both hard in the ocean with minimal ware and tear. If your talkin' canal drags I would think .10 and .08 would be a bit light. The more important thing is design/engineering of your hull. Just my .02 cents
Reply:The lightest, cheapest little stamped out manufactured jon boats are built with .080 skin. What is  the intended use of this boat and why does it need to last only a couple of years?Mine is a 17' open self bailing deck, 90hp tiller, jet boat with tunnel. It has 3/16" bottom, 1/8 sides and deck. Heavy? Of course it is. But i wouldnt go lighter than .125/.100 for even a 14'.I live in Alaska though. When we build a boat, we build a BOAT.Good luck OzEdit: just noticed you said it was to be a drag boat. With that in mind youll really need to beef up the transom area.Last edited by DirtyOz; 11-25-2012 at 01:23 AM.Reason: TypoDynasty 200DXMiller 210 Spooly
Reply:Racing?.125" bottom & Carbon fiber sides!Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by DirtyOzThe lightest, cheapest little stamped out manufactured jon boats are built with .080 skin. What is  the intended use of this boat and why does it need to last only a couple of years?Mine is a 17' open self bailing deck, 90hp tiller, jet boat with tunnel. It has 3/16" bottom, 1/8 sides and deck. Heavy? Of course it is. But i wouldnt go lighter than .125/.100 for even a 14'.I live in Alaska though. When we build a boat, we build a BOAT.Good luck OzEdit: just noticed you said it was to be a drag boat. With that in mind youll really need to beef up the transom area.