*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: I see said the blind man... as he picked up a hammer and saw.
I dont get it!!!! Aluminum fish boxes???? Your ice wont last very long. A hatch in the splash well...always a recipe for disaster in rough seas. little storage...and sorry just plain ugly.
Nice Boat, I thought aluminum was best left unpainted. I love the Idea of an aluminum boat, and that is one of the nicest I have ever seen. Shim those antenna mounts.
I wanna jump in here..... I have been watching Jay's build and must say he has done a hell of a job. You all cant imagine the amount of work he put in to get an Aluminum boat to the stage of a production boat with all of the amenities. The weld seams are a necessary evil of his build, but I can assure you they arent coming apart.
There are a few things that could be tweaked but it's a tank of a boat. It impressed me enogh to ask for a quote on one with twin diesels. The weld lines are a necessary evil and from the way they look it would take some serious forces to make them pop. I think the crew would fail before the welds do.
Not only ugly but all of those welds that can fail ! I am sure it is strong as a tank now but how about after ten years of use ?
I wasn't going to respond to this but.......You have to be kidding.
I guess that the USCG and Navy better sell there fleets real fast before those welds fail.
FYI..Rock Salt boats as well as Pacifics come with a lifetime warranty on their hulls. 20 years from now if a weld were to fail (and none have in the history of Pacific boats) you get a new hull. How many high end glass manufactures offer a lifetime warranty? These hulls will be doing their thing long after any glass boat of the same year is blistered, split and on the scrap heap.
BTW , these boats come finished to a buyers spec from bare metal to yacht quality finish.
Jay builds a quality product with a boat designed for its intended purpose and backs it with the best warranty in the business. He listens to his customers and not some marketing companies over hyped gimmicks.
That is an interesting rig! I can't wait to see one in person. I believe you could buy one of those and just upgrade the engines and electronics every decade or so. Although I must admit, you wouldn't have to worry about it's appearance deteriorating! Then again, for me, that is one of the things that makes it so appealing. If I purchased a Rock Salt, Starbrite, Mary Kate, and 3M would certainly miss me!
Granted, that one needs a bit of tweaking, but I'd sure like to see the 5th one they build. That should be approaching perfection. Aside from aesthetic concerns, what are the true issues with aluminum boats if any? All I've heard is more zincs and hot on the feet if you don't paint the topsides white.
He, he, he.... I particularly like the part about the ugly welds coming apart - now that's funny!
George, don't let it bother you it's like the old Harley Davidson line about "for those who understand no explanation is necessary and for those that don't no explanation will do..." yet I explain for those with open minds....
I always find the anger at a product that doesn't fit our preconceived notions a bit unusual. Small-minded. Petty.
I see it all the time. A guy walks up to the boat and with a big ole-grin definitively states that that boat won't hold up in saltwater 'cause of all of the "electrolysis". "Must get awful hot!!" "Lightning will git you!!"
I take the time to explain galvanic and electrolystic corrosion, heat transfer, the farraday principle, etc. I further explain that welded aluminum alloy boats are the mainstay of the military, large yacht and workboat markets and the guy looks at me like I'm a liar. He's convinced that alloy equals freshwater jonboat and that's all there is to it! Won't be budged - has his mind made up. Closed for input.
The welds: not done to be pretty like a t-top but pretty does not equal strong. The welder's hand behind those welds has 4 US patents on welding including a very rare patent on a welding process. He's welded nuclear vessels from Brazil to Vermont. The company he started - Welding Services, Inc. is the world's largest specialty welding company and has over 1000 employees. If a lifetime guarantee isn't suitable I don't know what else to say. If you'd rather have a boat with a balsa-cored bottom that is warranteed for 5 years I wish you nothing but the best! Blistering, water intrusion, spider cracks, wavy bottoms, air voids, de-lamination - all fun stuff I'm sure.
These boats are made for a very small slice of the boating pie. Most boats in the 20'-70' recreational market get used less than 100 hours a year. They aren't taken out in rough conditions if possible and almost never contact another vessel, rocks, oil rigs. For this relatively light-duty usage fiberglass does very, very well and is very smooth and shiny to boot!
When people buy boats to go in harms way - Fire boats, Patrol Boats, Rescue Boats, Military Boats, Round the world sailors, etc - they primarily use alloy. Why? Bloody tough. When your life depends on the boat, when there's someone sinking or on fire in a hellish storm and you HAVE to go out you go in aluminum alloy.
Is it for everyone? Nope. Is it for most people? Nope. But if you use your boat hard, if you abuse your boat, if you must go in harms way then....
Lastly a small story...
I grew up with a commercial fisherman named Charlie Johnson. Charlie is a commercial swordfisherman who regulary travels in his 110' alloy boat 7,000 miles to fish off Uraguay, he fishes the Grand Banks and was out during the perfect storm (he taught Linda Greenlaw how to fish). He's owned the same boat for 22 years logging thousands and thousands and thousands of miles. He's somehow able to keep his catch (which is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars) cold in his aluminum boat, he's been in literal 50' seas and his alloy boat is still working.
Charlie chooses aluminum alloy - I wonder why?
__________________
Jay Perrotta
Black Lab Marine Partners, LLC
Rock Salt Alloy Boats, LLC
Yarmouth, Maine, USA
PH: 207-400-7404 Jay@blacklabmarine.com
Awesome pictures of an Awesome Boat.She is not a beauty queen but we can leave those boats for the pink shirt guys.I would much rather have blood and guts over pretty and pink.
blacklab
i'm open-minded and believe what you say. i just don't think that aesthetically the welds look good. i'd also think they create more drag than a smooth surface, but i would never doubt their strength. for those who need it i'm sure it's the smartest, safest way to go.
Hay Jay...what was the boat show price on the boat? How much does the whole rig weigh ready to fish? Looks real good and I think it looks great...but hey I own a cat so what do I know....except that I don't like the upkeep of fiberglass!
ROCK SALT 2009
What does one like that cost to start with before you start adding the upgrades?
