Birdsall Marine vs. Competition

captsuperfly · 03-16-2006, 07:39 AM

Looking at Afishionado's hot new Birdsall swingback leaning post just confirms what I've experienced with them - they do stellar work and deliver it when promised. Sadly, not every welder does.

Long story short, I was in a huge hury to get my a leaning post to install in the new boat, and Bob Birdsall pulled a leaning post he had built for a show and shipped it right to my builder so I wouldn't have to wait. I get as many compliments on the leaning post as the boat. Every weld is perfect. It was at the builder a week after I made the first phone call, just as Bob promised.

In contrast, I decided to test a local North East welder (who must, alas, remain nameless on this site) by having him fabricate a set of console mounted rod holders for me. They were special in that each holder needed one notched spin rod holder and one milled fly rod holder. I sent plans, a sample of the fly rod holder design in plastic, and my check (in full to expedite things) to the welder, who assured me that this was no problem and he would ship on Friday.

He didn't. In fact, after three promises, and many excuses he didn't ship for a month. When I got the rod holders, they were awful. They were scratched , the milled edges had burs and edges sharp enough to skin a caribou. They were also crooked and had scorch marks.

When I showed them to the builder, he laughed and refused to mount them on the boat.

To his credit, the welder admitted that he rushed them and agreed to "fix" them. So, I gave him a shot.

That was five months ago. I'm still waiting. He's claimed to ship them five times. He also refuses to give me my money back.

Disgusted, I called Bob Birdsall, who welded me up a set of notched spinning reel holders and sent them out. I've had some hot mobile inserts made for the fly rods.

I received the Birdsall holders in four days. They are perfect and they'll look great on the boat.

So, this post isn't so much to flame the bad welder as much to praise Birdsall. Yes, they charge a premium - but they deliver on their promises.

rcatena · 03-16-2006, 07:56 AM

Are "hot mobile inserts made for the fly rod" removeable rod holders for fly rods that fit in regular vertical rod holders? I made some out of pvc but would like something a bit better.

I agree about birdsall. When I chose a leaning post for my WW I chose Birsdsall. For the Key west T top, however, I chose Bluewater. I am extremely impressed with their work. Now, if I could only get one of those roll out cooler trays that Sea vee offers.... Anyone know where I can get one of those?

bzalmano · 03-16-2006, 08:09 AM

Was that Bob Senior or Jr. I find Birdsall does great work. They also charge a great deal of money for it, and sometimes the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing or in this case Jr. and Sr. do not always agree on things. I think you got luck that he had a leaning post already built, they have huge back log and normally would take much more time. They do a lot of dealer and boat builder work so they have more business then they can keep up with.

Like I said I think their work is second to none and like anything else you get what you pay for and sometimes wait for.

captsuperfly · 03-16-2006, 08:16 AM

I did deal with Bob Sr. Maybe i got lucky - both times. That said, they've earned my business and I'd be inclined to press my luck.

bzalmano · 03-16-2006, 08:32 AM

Superfly - Iwould probably consider using them again as well, I would just make sure and deal with Bob Sr whenever I go in there. They do absolutly beautiful work and considering that most of us buy this sort of thing for the life of the boat it is probably worth paying the few extra bucks up front.

Afishinado · 03-16-2006, 09:00 AM

Those of you that have been to Birdsall know it is a big place. They have a lot of work. The pict on their website of the facility musta been taken on a Sunday or something. I arrived yesterday morning, just left a message I was coming, no appointment. Bob Sr had called and said it was ready Monday, and to just bring the boat down anytime. When I arrived one look told me the only way my boat was getting into that yard within hours would be by use of a helicopter. After I find a place on a side street to park I go in and Bob Jr wasn't aware it was to be installed. At that moment I'm thinking 'this is gonna be a really long wait'... Long story short, 5 minutes later I was being guided into a spot alongside their building on the street, 1-1/2 hours later I was on my way home.
I looked at all the fabricators displaying at Miami this year, as well as posts in boats. The welds, clean lines are part of what separates them from the rest. A big thing with me besides attention to detail was the hardware Allen cap screws instead of hex heads, very nice... On the rigging shelf I bought the through bolt for mounting (#8 or #10 machine screws- 4 of them) didn't have a nut, they went into a nut that looks like a phillips head screw, very clean..