You get Slider to come out of retirement?

I buy the metal and bring it to him.
This place has metal, can cut it, and can do vee crimps.
Pierce aluminum 1065 Petroleum Pkwy, Broussard, LA

 

2ND THAT

 

Here's one of the DWG files he sent me

 

like stated above pierce can crimp the sides. Your not going to be able to get 1 single sheet to do floor and sides.

 

So yes with the correct bracing it will be fine. That's how majority of custom boats are done. Your going to want whole length sheets thou. I have seen boats that literally pieced 8' lengths together for the sides and floor just doesn't give it a clean look..

 

No way in hell I'd let anyone put a boat together like a jigsaw puzzle like that.

 

^^^^^^:laugh:

 

Explain more on what you mean? Are you talking piecing together 8' sheets, or do you mean the bottom is one complete piece, the left side is one piece, the right side is one piece, the transom is one piece?

As long as they are full sheets front to back you should be fine. You'll have issues if it's all 8 foot sheets though.

 

Looks to me like floor and sides are made with 8' sheets by what that looked like and gonna have a seam right thru middle of boat

 

Wont have issues if its braced right. Its just going to look cobbled together. The boat will work but be an eye sore since your spending the money to have a boat built have it done the right way. If your builder cant get full length sheets I would look to a different builder.

 

If I'm correct the only two seams you will see are in the middle on the outside of the boat, which he said he would grind down flush.

 

Also the guy said for the stringers he does longitudinal braves and cross braces on top of that. He called it ladder braces.

 

That will never work. That's why cargo ships are made of single sheet of steel. :laugh: Welding, by definition, is to unite two pieces of metal. Unite is to "make one". Two pieces of metal welded together are now one piece of metal. Would full length pieces be better? Yes. Is it possible to do it with smaller sheets? Yes. I would think that staggering the bottom seam in relation to the side seams would be appropriate. I disagree that it would be an eye sore once painted or wrapped. You could just have the pieces broke by a shop with a large break, and solve all the problems. Let us know how you go on this.

 

The main reason I am considering this is because he said he can build me a 1872 out of 1/8" 5052 with a sealed floor, single bench in the back and flush mount 6' deck for 4800$ out the door.

 

He is working for free at that price. Hard to stay in business if you have no profit. I'd be nervous, but maybe working for nothing is better than spending time with his wife.

 

That's really cheap. Idk I think that's to good to be true. Normally when things are corners are cut and things are missing. I might be wrong but that throws flags up for me. I wouldn't put any money down I would pay on pickup....

 

He seems legit, has a website and a Facebook page with reviews. He makes custom signs and graphics and just started getting into building boats.

 

I think you'll be fine if he fabs it up right. I inserted the :laugh: above because I just did this on my 1648 widening project (welded 2 8' lengths together). It isn't the choice I would've preferred, but the main objective for me was to do as much of my project as possible with aluminum I had laying around from other builds. I definitely understand other's concerns though, ESPECIALLY if he is just getting into building boats. Good luck to ya, hope it turns out!!

 

Good luck-be sure to post pics

 

http://www.kylendscreations.com

 

https://sites.google.com/site/custombuiltaluminum/

You might want to ck with this one At least his web site has boats on it.

 

He builds very nice boats.

 

the seems is not a big deal. I good fabricator can blend a seam together so all that's there is a shinny 4" strip. only thing id be leary about is the price. if he has not built a boat in a few years he may not be ready for todays aluminum prices. I would draw up exactly what you want right down to the measurements and have him quote it. then have him write you up a invoice before you ever start the build. the money down would be between you and him but typically its 1/2. by doing it this way there is a written agreement between the two of you stating exactly what you want for a price the both of you have agreed on. --Again: 4800 is barely gonna cover materials. I just spent over 6k on materials for a 18' boat but that's including all the furniture.

 

I have already sent him a CAD file of what I want exactly, he has drawn it up in 2D to see how many 10' sheets he will need and the material for the boat is going to cost him around 3500$ priced at his local distributor. The rest of the cost is his labor. He does it all himself and doesn't pay someone else to do it. He wants me to pay for material up front, he will issue me an invoice of what I want and prices.

 

well sounds like you already have your mind made up on having him build it.... good luck with the build carry on op:

 

I haven't decided yet, the guy said he is building another boat for a customer in the next week or two I might wait till he has that one done and decide from there.

 

I looked at the website and saw no boats.... I did learn that you need a license to braid hair tho- who knew?..

I'm with a lot of the others, hate to be the guinea pig. Pay me now or pay me later comes to mind

 

just a word of advice on custom boats...."cheap boats aren't good and good boats aren't cheap" :laugh: but in all seriousness never know he could be the next ******* boats:laugh: ok ok im done.... good luck

 

So I just stumbled upon this, looks like this guy did the same thing piecing it together with sheets.

http://bow.fishingcountry.com/forum...ow-Prop-Blade-Fan-25-hp-Kohler-Minolta-101-Power-Max&highlight=2072+custom+boat

 

It sounds like he has been upfront with you about the cost of material, and the cost of labor. Why not drive the 5 hours to Pierce Aluminum and get the full length sheets, already broke? That would knock out 56' of welds, and 56' of grinding/sanding/polishing, which should = less labor $. Might be worth your day in the truck.

 

Or heres another idea-buy a bare factory built hull and put a floor in, and your deck up front. SeaArk 1872 bare hull can be had for about $5100-5300, and its ready to hit the water. Toughest factory hull made.

One thing I noticed on his site were several grammer and spelling errors.

On the very first page, he says "For all you sign, graphic, welding, and metal fabrication needs"

On his 'store' tab, he says "If you do not see what you are looking for, email use for a custom
quote...." And he says "If you have a idea ask and will see if we have some clip art for you." That SHOULD read: 'If you have an idea ask and we'll see if we have some clip art for you'

Another grammar error: "If you do not see what you are looking for in our store email us and we will create you a custom quote.

Theres a few others, but yall get the point.

Heres my concern-if you're trying to advertise a SIGN SHOP, which is in the business of conveying the English language through various media, would it not be pretty damn important to have a website that contains proper use of said language?!?! Improper grammer along with more than a handful of grammer f-ups...PLUS the fact he lists 'Custom aluminum boat design' dead last in his list would send me looking elsewhere. Try asking him if he builds US Coastguard approved boats, or if he has any certifications from the boat manufacturing world. Im guessing this ding dong has no clue about what he's getting himself into, hence his inability to secure one piece sheets. He hasnt done his research, or he would use complete sheets and save himself 100hrs of welding and grinding. :headbang:

I wouldnt let this toolbox make tags for my neigbors dog, let alone build a boat from the ground up!!

 

Pretty much said what i was thinking about it lol:drunk:

 

......

 

Their, their. No need to get two upset over a few grammar airs that have no effect on you. But don't you like where his price is at? :headbang: I was raised by an English teacher, so I get it.

I helped my Uncle, Jack, off a donkey.

I helped my Uncle jack off a donkey.

See the difference, fellas? Punctuation and grammar DO matter. Makes me think of a couple of guys in particular.:laugh:

 

I'd DEFINITELY ask about the USCG Certification. If it's not, I wouldn't even concern myself with taking one step further. I'd find someone else