Aluminum house

[Captlvb]

On my hour ride to work today got thinking about putting an aluminum house and trunk cabin on a downeast hull. Ever been done? Wonder if there is any weight savings compared to a stick bulit house. I have never used the lighter panels discussed on here but curious. I know the price would be high due to the cost of aluminum but would the savings in weight and fuel offset it?

Lou

 

[steveinak]

It sweats a lot on the inside unless you cover it with something. I'd bet you'll cook inside in the summer unless you insulate it well also.

 

[Captlvb]

Never thought of that.

 

[Powderpro]

An aluminum house would be great, but you have to insulate them like Steve said. If I were to ever build a larger DE, like 42'+, I would seriously consider putting an aluminum pilothouse on it (powdercoated to match the color of the hull). My guess is the aluminum house with insulation would be close in weight to a glass stick framed house using a lightweight core material.

 

[El Mar]

Somewhere there are pics of an aluminum house being fabricated for a 31 Bertram. I saw one on the Cape once with a west coast style windshield, looked good.

 

[Northern bay]

On my hour ride to work today got thinking about putting an aluminum house and trunk cabin on a downeast hull. Ever been done? Wonder if there is any weight savings compared to a stick bulit house. I have never used the lighter panels discussed on here but curious. I know the price would be high due to the cost of aluminum but would the savings in weight and fuel offset it?

Lou

Capt:

I know a guy who is contemplating on doing this on a new Downeast boat. If he goes ahead its gonna be big news as its a new hull based on an already proven one! I can put you in touch with him.

How has your tuna season been?

Bill

 

[Raider Ronnie]

When I was in Taylor Marine in Green Harbor last week, one of the Sea Tow boats caught my eye.
I think it's a 25-28 ft Whaler or something similar.
Now a downeast but I believe they had the house fabricated & installed not that long ago.
Very cool looking house.

 

[Nighthawk]

Powdercoating alumimum for marine use has been a dismal failure in my mind. A look at what little aluminum is powdercoated today such as many window frames shows that it is a bad choice. If anything, paint it. You could of course do what the CG has done on the 47' and use 6000 series aluminum and never paint it. That oxidized, chalky gray look might not be for everyone. I also really don't see any savings here in weight over a cored, molded top and the cost will be significantly more with aluminum in both labor and material especially in a custom built scenario where the fabricator has to perfectly match the lines of the deck where it will sit.

 

[Captlvb]

We did not schedule any trips this season as the cost per person was going to be over 350 and the last few years the weather caused us to cancel so many trips that it became a huge pain to reschedule, send money back or rebook another trip that was full.

 

[dwnhmr]

A few all aluminum lobster boats were built around here in Maine, never really caught on. Would be brutal on hot a summer day...Though white paint would help to reflect heat away, just more maintenance .

 

[Northern bay]

We did not schedule any trips this season as the cost per person was going to be over 350 and the last few years the weather caused us to cancel so many trips that it became a huge pain to reschedule, send money back or rebook another trip that was full.

Capt - No one has the $$$ these days to fish offshore anymore. There are many reputable long time charter operations crying the blues down my way. It's sad, they just cant get those trips and if they do they are working for minimum wage.

I've spend a few times up in the wheelhouse on your boat when Capt. John was still running the night bluefish trips. Some friends and I would head up after work and go on the night bluefish trips back when you could use your own individual bluefish permit. The fish were there thick and it was not cost effective to take our own boats! Quite a few times we packed out 800-1000 lbs in a night. Boy did the shoobies look at us funny!

 

[Captlvb]

Ahhh the MEATMEN of my early years. Bet you know names like Cigar Al, Donnie and Walt to name a few I remember. Johno loved the buisiness and especially the guys who fished so much with him on those night trips. Tiimes have changed and I don't have too many regulars and just fish saturday nights now due to the lack of freight.

 

[Helen L]

News Update: Wednesday, July 11 - Lobster Boat Runs Aground in Aquinnah, Taking on Water | The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News

This offshore lobster boat went aground this past summer on the Vineyard. When I hauled out in Fairhaven to gel coat the hull, this guy was out just behind me. Watched them take a sawzaw and cut the entire wheel house off. Hull had a 3x2' gash in her hull. I was told they were scrapping the boat after gutting her. Too bad, she was beautiful. All aluminum. But it got me thinking, if something like this happened in a solid glass boat it could be fixed somewhat easier and cheaper. The Sherry Ann had her hard chine smashed in and hull breached. Heard something like $50k just to fix the hull.

 

[Captlvb]

Don't know about easier? With aluminum just cut it out and weld in the new piece. No worry about water intrusion. Imagine it would be mighty costly though.

 

[Helen L]

I guess the chine is hard to weld in and make right. portable welder and skilled welder big $$$.