Re: [bolger] Re: Aluminum boats?
Peter
Were you cruising your own boat or Princess?
HJ
pvanderwaart wrote:
Were you cruising your own boat or Princess?
HJ
pvanderwaart wrote:
>
> > So unless you live in Canada I would suggest you look into making
> > wood boats in the states...
>
> During a cruise to Alaska this summer, I saw several very tough-
> looking aluminum boats in the 15'-20' range. One does not see that
> sort of thing on Long Island Sound. I assumed it was due to the local
> conditions, including a lot of flotsam. It never occurred to me that
> it might be because they can be built more cheaply in Canada.
>
> Are you saying that the US, champion of the free markets, has a
> protectionist attitude toward its aluminum industry? Heaven forfend!
>
> Peter
>
> ---
>> So unless you live in Canada I would suggest you look into makingAluminum is the material of choice for McKinzie style drift boat in
>> wood boats in the states...
>
>During a cruise to Alaska this summer, I saw several very tough-
>looking aluminum boats in the 15'-20' range. One does not see that
>sort of thing on Long Island Sound.
the PNW. When there was a haul seigning fishery on Long Island's
South Shore, aluminum dories were most common.
YIBB,
David
--
C.E.P.
415 W.46th Street
New York, New York 10036
http://www.crumblingempire.com
Mobile (646) 325-8325
Office (212) 247-0296
> So unless you live in Canada I would suggest you look into makingDuring a cruise to Alaska this summer, I saw several very tough-
> wood boats in the states...
looking aluminum boats in the 15'-20' range. One does not see that
sort of thing on Long Island Sound. I assumed it was due to the local
conditions, including a lot of flotsam. It never occurred to me that
it might be because they can be built more cheaply in Canada.
Are you saying that the US, champion of the free markets, has a
protectionist attitude toward its aluminum industry? Heaven forfend!
Peter
When rivets and aluminum boats are mentioned in the same sentence as
cost cutting then I can tell someone has no experience building in
alloy. I needed two stern drive pods for a not so long ago project
and I priced out my stock sheet price, I went through the roof. I
called a friend in BC and his labor and material price were less than
my material price in the states and that included shipping!
So unless you live in Canada I would suggest you look into making
wood boats in the states, unless you want steel and that is only
reasonable after 25'. Wood is still the best bargain and unless you
have welded aluminum for at least a couple of years and own the
equipment to do the work it in no way could be cost effective. I can
fabricate all types of metal but wood is the most forgiving material
and with proper care can last as long as most metal boats.
John
cost cutting then I can tell someone has no experience building in
alloy. I needed two stern drive pods for a not so long ago project
and I priced out my stock sheet price, I went through the roof. I
called a friend in BC and his labor and material price were less than
my material price in the states and that included shipping!
So unless you live in Canada I would suggest you look into making
wood boats in the states, unless you want steel and that is only
reasonable after 25'. Wood is still the best bargain and unless you
have welded aluminum for at least a couple of years and own the
equipment to do the work it in no way could be cost effective. I can
fabricate all types of metal but wood is the most forgiving material
and with proper care can last as long as most metal boats.
John
--- In bolger@y..., Jim Goeckermann <jim@s...> wrote:
> I know that a fella on this site could get tarred and feathered for
less, but bifore you build that
> boat..."I've been thinking about a stretched (20'?) Diablo of
welded aluminum" take a look at a
> Bayrunner 18 Open D if you like big water or a Crestliner John
(welded or, for less $, riveted) hull
> for lakes and rivers. These basic aluminum hulls new or used are
incredible value for the money, and
> then if you apply your woodworking skills to the interior, you save
enough money that you can afford
> to put a Honda on the stern. If you can wear that boat out in a
lifetime, you need a commercial
> license. Also, it frees you up to make a myriad of small boats out
of wood or wood and glass. Got
> the tar pots cooking yet? I just love Jim Michalak for having the
integrity to take the stand he
> did: thinking of a wood boat over 20 feet to save money? Don't! Buy
one of the used excellent
> fiberglass sailboats from the 70s (I have owned 3 with trailers,
all under $1200 READY TO SAIL). Now
> understand, I love wooden boats, both the high class boats in the
glossy magazine of the same name
> and the plywood boats of Bolger and Michalak, but every now and
then I think someone needs to point
> out that if your budget is not limitless, a hybrid based on a used
commercial hull has a lot going
> for it when the size starts to grow much beyond sixteen feet.
Could you throw in some colored
> feathers for contrast? Cheers, Jim
I know that a fella on this site could get tarred and feathered for less, but bifore you build that
boat..."I've been thinking about a stretched (20'?) Diablo of welded aluminum" take a look at a
Bayrunner 18 Open D if you like big water or a Crestliner John (welded or, for less $, riveted) hull
for lakes and rivers. These basic aluminum hulls new or used are incredible value for the money, and
then if you apply your woodworking skills to the interior, you save enough money that you can afford
to put a Honda on the stern. If you can wear that boat out in a lifetime, you need a commercial
license. Also, it frees you up to make a myriad of small boats out of wood or wood and glass. Got
the tar pots cooking yet? I just love Jim Michalak for having the integrity to take the stand he
did: thinking of a wood boat over 20 feet to save money? Don't! Buy one of the used excellent
fiberglass sailboats from the 70s (I have owned 3 with trailers, all under $1200 READY TO SAIL). Now
understand, I love wooden boats, both the high class boats in the glossy magazine of the same name
and the plywood boats of Bolger and Michalak, but every now and then I think someone needs to point
out that if your budget is not limitless, a hybrid based on a used commercial hull has a lot going
for it when the size starts to grow much beyond sixteen feet. Could you throw in some colored
feathers for contrast? Cheers, Jim
boat..."I've been thinking about a stretched (20'?) Diablo of welded aluminum" take a look at a
Bayrunner 18 Open D if you like big water or a Crestliner John (welded or, for less $, riveted) hull
for lakes and rivers. These basic aluminum hulls new or used are incredible value for the money, and
then if you apply your woodworking skills to the interior, you save enough money that you can afford
to put a Honda on the stern. If you can wear that boat out in a lifetime, you need a commercial
license. Also, it frees you up to make a myriad of small boats out of wood or wood and glass. Got
the tar pots cooking yet? I just love Jim Michalak for having the integrity to take the stand he
did: thinking of a wood boat over 20 feet to save money? Don't! Buy one of the used excellent
fiberglass sailboats from the 70s (I have owned 3 with trailers, all under $1200 READY TO SAIL). Now
understand, I love wooden boats, both the high class boats in the glossy magazine of the same name
and the plywood boats of Bolger and Michalak, but every now and then I think someone needs to point
out that if your budget is not limitless, a hybrid based on a used commercial hull has a lot going
for it when the size starts to grow much beyond sixteen feet. Could you throw in some colored
feathers for contrast? Cheers, Jim