Old boat parts

It seems the easiest part of designing and building a 46' covertible is the hull and decks. We have those coming along nicely. But as I look at all the little parts and pieces we'll have to create molds for also my head starts to swim.

When you look at part of a boat, for example the flybridge helm of this '78 48' Egg Harbor,
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...721/0;jsessionid=a5ccDgPBwcTa&boat_id=1743721

you can see how many different angles and faces there are. I would change many things about this helm, but isn't there somewhere I could buy an old one from salvage so I'm not working completely from scratch?? I've checked salvage sites from the New Orleans area and throughout FL and can find no place with boat parts for sale from salvage. Mezzanine seating for the cockpit, tackle centers, cockpit storage and freezer box, helms, etc....can't find 'em!

Tony in Sw FL

 

i think most in your shoes find parts by buying the whole junk,,i mean boat heh. buying from insurance salvages and wrecks,, you might have alot of parts left over,, and the cost might be higher,, but if your using them to use as your mold, then ya need to look at it as an investment.and i would also try calling just plain ole boatyards in your area, see if any of them might have a good "contact"

 

Tony,

Here are just a few; there are many out there:

http://www.salvagemarine.com/html/replacement_boat.html

http://www.bobsmarinesalvage.com/

http://www.marineconsignment.com/

http://www.boatowners.com/usedparts.htm

The 1much has some good tips. Contacting private and municipal marina operators will lead to tips on salvage and abandoned boats you can buy for parts. Get the word out and someone will call you sooner or later. Be generous: Offer to send them referrals, to pay for dinner at a good restaurant for the lead you use, etc. With the right approach, people will be happy to help you.

 

If you learn to work with foam core , there is no need for preformed .

For flat sections , simply lay up what you need flat on a floor , and cut out to your template .

For curved stuff lay up one side , temp fasten to curves of your pleasing and lay up the other side.

Fast, cheap, light , unlimited , what else do you need?

FF

 

Thanks everyone. When dealing with fiberglass parts on a 50 footer, I'm finding nothing around...stuff is just too big for yards to hold for the little money they're worth.

Fred, you're right. In the time it would take me to locate a few great pieces, I could have carved 10 of them out of a big foam block and laid 'em up. And now that I've seen SO many good and bad helms while looking for a salvage, the process of formulating a real humdinger in my head has begun.

Thanks again,

Tony in Sw FL

 

parts

This site has a lot of new old stock. They are easy to deal with.
I have traveled past a few of the boat builders yards and they have older parts laying around. They might be interseted in cleaning up the yard
http://www.marconlq.biz/index.html

 

Holy cow rw,
That is an awesome spot. I'm going to need a lot of that stuff soon. I'm visiting Marine Concepts in Cape Coral because they have a few old foam blocks as well....some already shaped some not.

 

Question: how many layers of glass for the hull

Hello: I was wondering, how many layers of glass would a hull that large require. For example, I have heard, anything from 1.5 inches to 5 inches. of alternating layers of mat/roving over gel-coat

 

Well, we're overbuilding everything. So, if you want a lighter boat that's faster and less hardy I've seen as few as four with coring in the middle. We're doing seven layers of glass with the first two using vinylesther. Because it's such a wide boat, there's going to be different stress points so there must be overbuilding of bulkheads, stringer elbows, etc.

My old F-36 Trojan has been in the water for 25 years without a single blister or stress crack...and it's not a heavy boat. But it has seven layers of glass running different directions. I say stick to what's been proven.

Tony in Sw FL

 

bin there almost couldnt leave,,, but; when I designed and built my boats we had to make a lot of parts,, get used to it.. learn to make molds yourself cuz it takes forever and costs a fortune... Lets see, Im up to my knees in snow and know how to make molds,,, maybe,,, warm weather could entice me,,,.. ??