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Random Quote: You touched the leader its a catch! (as I cry from the bridge)
This guy goes out of Cocodrie. I'm doubting the offshore fishing right now, but I just want to go for a ride in his boat! He'll be able to put us on some joe-troutskis if the weather doesn't cooperate.
Aluminum makes more sense on larger boats (+40) as wieght differences increase and motor requirements go down. Large aluminum hulls are also cheaper to build than fiberglass as mold cost become a factor at lower production rates. I would love to see someone comission a large, high, and wide aluminum cat with small mercuruiser deisels but would not consider anything small unless I had to manhandle it by myself into the water.
Also love those Moose Boats - what a beautuful execution of an alloy cat.
The discussion of aluminum vs fiberglass has come up a number of times on this board in the past and of course my opinion is of no value as I'm so totally biased.
I would, though, like to try and introduce to discussions on boatbuilding materials a distinction they make in the antipodes (troutyland, Australia, downunder...) where aluminum and alloy boats have a much larger (50%?) marketshare.
As I understand it they refer to both welded and riveted boats with skin thickness' of 1/8" or less as "tinnies" and to boats made from 3/16" and above and welded as "plate alloy" boats.
Thus, boats like Winninghoff, Moose, Gravois, Pacific would be referred to as "plate alloy" boats and boats like Princecraft, Quintrex, lund would be referred to as "tinnies".
For anyone really interested in plate alloy boats there's even an annual Australian publicatin call "Plate & Alloy Boats" published by their "Fishing and Boating" magazine that is a pretty thorough look at the advantages, disavantages, qualities, etc of plate alloy boats. You can order a copy from Seamedia, the publisher:
If all of you would be kind enough to start making this distinction I think that it would help to further such well conducted discussions of of boatbuilding materials.
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
Welded aluminum vs. Fiberglass
Destructive Testing
Run fiberglass and aluminum plate welded hulls at high speeds directly into a large log and what you have is a fiberglass boat with a very large hole and an aluminum boat with a major dent . . . we are not talking about riveted aluminum or poorly constructed hulls
Miss-Be-Haven
" The only boat without a ding or four, is the one that never gets used!!! "
there's a gravois on the trading dock for sale, you might be able to get more info from the owner (nsh is the member's name)- he's in lafayette
they truly are a one-at-a-time builder, and it seems like most of the boats are in and around south LA. as i've looked around, gravois appears to be the closest comp to our beloved pacific!
"Everyone should believe in something. I believe I will go fishing" --- Henry David Thoreau
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Jay makes an excellent point, there's a big difference between a Sears gamefisher 14 and a welded plate boat. In addition there have been lots of advances in welding machinery. Before I started my current project (28' inboard diesel cat,) I researched aluminum welding and bought state of the art pulsed mig equipment. In a very short time I was able to produce full penetration welds of 3-8 MM 5083 plate that, placed in a vise, would take a full 180 degree bend without fracturing at the weld seam. Crosscutting through these test welds and viewing under magnification it is impossible to tell where the weld stops and the original plate began...because it's 100% fused. There's more to it than that, of course, good preparation, fitup, proper materials and equipment are essential. But my plasma cut parts are fitting together like a dream and I have absolutely no doubt about the strength. Bottom line for me is this...I could never afford to build one boat like this in glass, the mold effort would be far more than the cost of the completed boat plus I despise working with "frozen snot." I have the option to, during or after building, easily change almost any element other than hull shape. Hell, even the scraps are worth money. Plus, I dig the more workboat look, (even though this is a pretty snazzy design) and I know if I ever find it necessary to punish an oil rig while tying off I've got some beef in front of me. The weight is surprisingly low, too, not much more than a comparable cored hull. Not much of a contest over which would be more likely to survive a penetrating blow like impact with a water level standpipe or such. It's gonna be awesome....
quote:Originally posted by trouty:
.... Bait out, drag set at strike, waiting, waiting, waiting
At least we've finally got rid of that floating government tincan, replaced it with a nice wood one , gotta have something to tie to the wharf you know.
Will do, when I can find the time to pick up a digi camera in Corpus. I'm also going to check with the designer and see if I can post some details like general arrangement dwgs. I'm not sure what the interest level on this forum would be though, seems like brand loyalty and durable macerator pumps are the hot issues, dang it.
But then again could be that most guys have sense enough to just buy a boat to go fishin'.
Hmmm, let's see so far I've built every house I've lived in since I was 25, when I wanted to fly I rebuilt an airplane, this is boat project # 10 at least, a pattern is detected. One that, hopefully, can be broken if and when,God forbid, prostrate surgery is called for.
ok, not related to this thread very closely, but you CAN design and build a one off hull from fiberglass, not just al, and this guy did it, 30'CC www.concentric.net/~hammer
I currently own a 23 ft Gravois bay design. I bought it used with about 70 hours on it.
Yamaha 225 ox6.
Gravois is a small company with very qualified people.They are in a small towm about 30 minutes south of Lafayette, La.
There is no website that I know of. They have a dedicated following in this area & are well spoken of. They have a small shop & a great owner. I needed a wash down coupler as mine was starting to leak. I called to buy one. Spoke to the owner & He gave me 2 for free(one as a spare) & said if I were to bring Him some quart jars He would give me some touch up paint also for free.
I have no regrets at this time about buying this boat. I was looking at either a Scout or Whaler. Both are nice boats.
I have 2 standing offers to buy my boat for what I have in it if I want to sell it. Right now I think I will keep it.
If you have any other questions let Me know.
I see from the Black Lab Marine web site You guys also make some nice boats.Really like the looks of the cabin models.
Welded aluminum vs. Fiberglass 
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you know.
