AluminumAlloyBoats.com

Interesting, I see the fellow trimming the roof support beams so they are true to each other. I'm going to have to try that, using a planer that is.

Safeboats are made near me and I've had an opportunity to ride on several of them though they have all been the larger models. The reserve buoyancy provided by the hard collar means never having to worry about a sinking and there is no way to stuff the nose underwater regardless of conditions. Safe ...

I would be interested in knowing what the they use the Makita power planer for. Are they flattening weld beads with it? Or shaping some of the structural pieces? I know from my own experience that working aluminum is similar in some ways to working with very hard wood but i didn't know you could pla...

I'll throw out another option you might consider if the smaller engine is still an option. Suzuki 225 or 250. Bottom end gear ratio is lower and it swings a bigger prop than the Honda 225. Better for getting up on plane and maintaining a cruise speed on a heavier boat IMO. I'm repowering my LaConner...

Depending on one's monitor settings the pictures may be cut-off on the right. My eyes aren't too great anymore so I've adjusted my 17" monitors to 800x600 so text is larger. The way I see your pics easily is to stretch the browser window across both monitors. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...

Why not tap the sleeve that is already there? is it too thin walled?

Stainless sheet metal screws are bad mojo in aluminum but threaded holes like for ss pipe plugs seem to do fine, especially with a little pipe dope or tape.

That would only appeal to a certain crowd of greedy, ostentatious gold chain wearers. I'll take hull #1 :lol:

I was wondering how Greg was doing, thanks for the update.

Its looking good - lots of work welding it out

S L Dave wrote:Another builder I have never heard of! I need to get out more!!! :shock:

http://www.norvelleboats.com

They look great from my computer.

Dave, you don't have to go far, check out all the builders on the AAB manufacturers links page . . . there's a ton of boat builders out there!

I use stainless pipe plugs. Weld a bushing into the transom and thread it with a pipe tap.

In NZ$ unrigged but with that gorgeous trailer delivered Seattle? PM me.

That there fellows is the future of power boating . . . 30' long with a single 135 4stroke. Probably cruises at 25 knots at 5mpg?

I believe the original wood boats were something like 18hp straight inboard diesel?

Les, chlorine isn't acid and at the levels found in a pool it won't have any effect on the aluminum but it will probably get grungy or dirty looking compared to SS over time due to other impurities in the water like tanning lotions and chloramines.

Bevan, Now we are talking . . . that is style. The Handy Billy is a famous plywood design around here so i'm assuming you are true to form? http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p4ss4wWydSM/SM1aM3biKUI/AAAAAAAAAKw/IkGPKU4_a3I/s320/err-maynard.jpg At any rate, as soon as you can spit out another copy and get it ...

I had the led nav lites on my cat. Loved 'em. Probably still going strong and they are much brighter too. Big investment up font. Don't get led replacement bulbs, get the complete molded unit that just has wires coming out. I think these are good - Innovative is the brand I think . . . http://images...

Big boats don't have flotation

This is a pretty good article that talks about your type of situation.

http://www.mgduff.co.uk/leisure-craft/c ... ction.html

Welcome to the forum BTW. Tell us about your new boat!

Pretty neat. Are those flotation tanks? What does it weigh?

No doubt about it, bare aluminum attracts sea life stickies and is harder to remove than same from bare glass. A good bottom job is a must, sounds like you are doing it right.

Very nice sport boat you are building there! Please tell us more about the engines and drive set-up.

any plans on a possible diesel I/O as a option ??? I would imagine that the vessel weight is very light weight and the small 1.7 mercury diesel that every skippy owner is converting too would be a awesome combo So is the latest word on the 1.7 diesel Mercruiser that they have worked out the bugs?

Our new marine cop boat has a high end FLIR unit and it is spectacular how well you can see at night with the thing. We were cruising up the coastline here a couple of weeks back and it was so easy to spot deer in the forest along the waters edge in pitch darkness. Chunks of wood floating out in fro...

Now there is a PacNW "battlewagon". Bertrams and Yellowfins need not apply . . .

Seawolf? Very nice! A buddy of mine has two of them, a 27 that he charter fishes here in WA and another that his son operates in SE AK, a big pilothouse.

BTW, if you need a spot to stash a trailer for a short while you can have it delivered to my place though I suspect that Seawolf has room for it?

Damn good story in my book :D

Welcome and feel free to contribute!

If you look at our annual rainfall totals its probably less than most areas of the country. Its just that it comes mainly in the form of sprinkles & drizzle so the impression that most people have is that the rain never stops. I really disliked it when I first moved up here but now it doesn't bo...