Jimmy Gravois is at again

[welder]

Can't wait to see the finished product...

[kmorin]

Interesting topsides plating technique to get the hollow flair instead of the one pieces side flam more common in this size skiff.

By planking vertically with 'hour glassed' shaped pieces and pulling to an internal set of frames and stringer the builder was able to get a good hollow in the bow while still having a very wide overhang of the sheer to the chine. Looks like the seams were trued from the chine up to the sheer using 'wedge and dogs' to even up the tacks, then the welds were completely faired off (not that common) using a sander to achieve a clean hull seam and the very nice looking hull form at the bow.

Welder, if any framing details are available they'd make these two images much more informative. I do wonder if the vertical seams were on or in between vertical frame stations? And too- what were/are the longs' scantlings and were they cut, rolled or pulled on the frames cold?

just wondering?

Cheers
Kevin Morin

[JETTYWOLF]

Is this the same fella who builds those bad azz bayboats

[welder]

Jetty, yes, jimmy is the man in LA.

Kevin, those are all the pics I have so far , Jimmy may be along in a few days with more pics.

[welder]

Jimmy sent this one for ya Kevin.

[Illgotoo]

I'm no expert but that has to be one stiff hull.

[gandrfab]

I'm no expert but, cracks come from flexing.

[Sabs28]

I just HOPE there is a bigger door at the stern then there is at the bow or that boats is going "NO-WHERE". Nice looking frame work.

[kmorin]

Welder, I asked for a picture of the framing of a Gravois BOAT and you post something from Caterpillar- like a 60 yard, strip-mining, drag line bucket!!

Obviously this boat is the toughest boat for its size I have ever seen.

Does Jimmy & Co. draw these 'boats' or is there a naval architect with some past experience in foundry & forge work involved? Maybe the designer had previous experience in the interstate highway concrete forms designing & welding business?

The longs are clearly cut to waterlines forward (above the chine) and the x-verse frames are pressed to an angle flange then either hollow cut from chine to sheer or that was done when the frame blank was NC cut and the press came afterward?

The shape of the bow is very clean- were the sheets (topsides panels) worked with an English wheel or an Eckold machine to get their curves 'both ways' or were they just 'hourglass' (outline) cut and pulled back to the huge internal framing?

tunnel prop? prop pocket? but it looks like its only for the top 1/2 or 1/3 of the wheel? Some sort of stern 'overhang' that I'm not familiar with, but a deck overhangs the transom and is framed into the underneath transom ? some shapes I'm not sure I understand here but its solid as a rock.

Maybe she's intended to work in shallow water with some sort of (net) fishing gear over the stern? Or she may have to deploy a oil spill recovery/containment boom and that is why there is a stern deck/overhang? Clearly the prop is a very protected piece of equipment on this boat.

This is enough to make me consider going far enough south to look for work at Gravois Boats.

thanks welder and Jimmy, this is a beautiful looking boat and I look for to learning more as time allows. I sure end up with more questions every picture I see!

thanks for sharing this work.

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

[S L Dave]

I just HOPE there is a bigger door at the stern then there is at the bow or that boats is going "NO-WHERE". Nice looking frame work.

Now that would be funny!!!

That framing structure is amazing! Talk about an overbuilt boat...Gravois is an alloy rock star!

[simplepeddler]

Actually, as I understand it.........there are now two.

Alex Gravois is Jimmy's nephew and left the company when Jimmy started doing just the government stuff.

Alex's boats are built right down the street from me under the "American" name.

There is scuttle butt about the deal but what I see is two great boats to choose from.

It does seem that Uncle Jimmy pulled a little trick out of his hat with that flair, it looks more like a Gaudet's than the typical Gravois......

ALL VERY nice hulls for sure!

[welder]

Jimmy, where are you , hello.......Get herself on here and tell us bout yer build .

[JETTYWOLF]

ROCK STAR

ALLOY STAR WOW, now that's alot of alloy.

I seen that video where they take a glass boat and drop it on concrete and it bounces, then they take it offshore afterwards. "Invincible" maybe the boat name I think.....

Drop this boat on the concrete and ya may need NEW concrete

Please keep up some pics on this build. Cuz, we need to see from start to finish.

Boat porn......MO' PLEASE?

[Monel]

Check out this write up on Gravois:

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/ar ... etal-shark

Monel

[JETTYWOLF]

Jus look at that console and "you just don't see details like that every day!"