Aluminium shower cubicle

[The Ompan]

I’m constructing a shower cubicle on a narrowboat & planning to use aluminium for the walls with aluminium angle for strength/rigidity. Can you recommend thickness/grade and suitability?
One of the 3 walls will need to be bent into a shallow curve to conform to the outer steel wall of the boat.
I’m planning on using tread plate (for aesthetics) but this isn’t essential.
I’m planning on arc welding it together, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be welded to the steel hull.
Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[voipio]

Aluminium extrusions used for showers are normally anodised, for corrosion resistance. The anodising will have to be removed at the weld locations, so the welds will not have the same protection as the rest. Have you considered stainless steel?

 

[tom2207]

Stainless ,, would be a better starting point ,, or brass if your feeling traditional ...

 

[E T]

I wouldn't use stick welding to weld a aluminium shower cubicle.
The flux on the electrodes and therefore the resulting slag is salt based and very hygroscopic.
All the slag has to be removed with warm water and a hard brush or the salt will eat away the aluminium in no time and on top of that corrode the steel hull it is next to.

 

[E T]

I’m planning on arc welding it together, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be welded to the steel hull.

You can't weld aluminium to steel with the normal welding processes.
You can with explosion welding, but that doesn't sound like a good idea on a narrowboat.

 

[gaz1]

I wouldnt use what your intending due to the failing of the seal or silicone that you will be using more so in the shower area

you would be far better off making a proper shower wetroom and the false walls built within this wetroom area as it will give you a far better seal that will last years

 

[Shox Dr]

I think the forum has been infected with Harry Enfield Chumitus.

Might I suggest the OP looks for a Cassette shower as used in Caravans etc

 

[tom2207]

could you put a layer of insulation on the hull , then do the job in fiberglass , treat it as a one piece tank then you wont have leak issues , and it wont rust ,,, white gel coat it and it will be ok to look at too ,,,, only boat I spent any time on with a shower added was a Barnett and it had a shower built up at the bow ,,, trouble was it was built for pirates , due to the stem shape and the chain locker it was triangular in shape , with a point at the base and wide at the shoulders , so it would have been great if you only had one leg ,,, but with two it was a tad tricky .

 

[pedrobedro]

it had a shower built up at the bow ,,, trouble was it was built for pirates ,

It would have been a showaarrgh Tom lad

 

[Gareth J]

Aluminium sounds chilly....

 

[Erie Fred]

Aluminium sounds chilly....

...and electrically conductive...ZAP !