AluminumAlloyBoats.com

So today's quote for 5052 went from @1.80 last month to $2.89/lb. today. And they didn't have it. Its seem like everybody buying up inventory .
Sales person said there were shortages from the mill. Maybe the mill needs to turn up production.

Welderbob

Tariff's kicking in to curb china dumping, at $3.00 lb USA mills can re-open and a bunch of people can go back to work, in theory anyways. Bob, what percentage of a finished boat's cost is the uncut plate ordered for the job?

We just ordered a 32' in sheet goods; mainly 1/4". While we pay lots of frt to get the metal to Alaska, so 3$-4/lb is not new here, we were told the PNW tariff cost increases were about 2weeks out, so figured inventory would be hit hard (and it's spring too) and ordered.

The skipper decided to buy now, hoping to avoid the increase? Hope he did? I haven't seen the costs yet.

Cheers,
Kevin Morin
Kenai, AK

Has Trump increased the second-hand value of my boat?

used to be beer cans were made into boats . . . now it's boats into beer cans!

My friend in a local machine shop was just quoted @3.89/lb for 3 sheets of 5052. He needed 100pc-9"x9" x 1/8" pieces. I told him I would cut my drop pieces for $2.00/ lb. Last weeks scrap aluminum actually went down a few cents a pound to .48 cent/lb.

I'd be a little afraid to quote a new boat right now.

Welderbob

If you think Aluminum is bad, check out steel. Its jumped bigtime already.

Its great all the jobs coming back to America and stuff getting more expensive, so profit margins can increase, but now try finding quality workers who are willing to use their hands and do all this hard, non-techy non computer work for less than $120K per year..that to me is the hard part.

The real winners are the metal suppliers. The people to choke up the difference are the welders and the buyers of the boats.