Hull Builders

Discussion in 'Metal Boat Building' started by bhenken08, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. bhenken08
    Joined: Dec 2007
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Bellingham WA

    bhenken08 New Member

    Does anyone know where I can find a custom aluminum hull builder? Oh and I’m also looking for a qualified boat designer.

    Any help appreciated
     
  2. Eric Sponberg
    Joined: Dec 2001
    Posts: 2,021
    Likes: 248, Points: 73, Legacy Rep: 2917
    Location: On board Corroboree

    Eric Sponberg Senior Member

    Bhenken08,

    If you Google "us shipyards" you will get to this site from the US Maritime administration:

    http://www.marad.dot.gov/nmrec/links/usshipyardsr.html

    It lists all the shipyards in the US arranged by region. Most of these shipyards are metal boat and ship builders. Many of the names in the lists have hyperlinks to the respective websites.

    If this is for a small craft, you can also try Custom Steel Boats in Merritt, NC, and their website is:

    http://www.customsteelboats.com/

    They are very experienced in aluminum fabrication and welding and can give you necessary information.

    I hope that helps.

    Eric
     
  3. lazeyjack

    lazeyjack Guest

    i am a custom builder with 30 years experience,(see gallery)
    I sent email
     
  4. gwboats
    Joined: Sep 2005
    Posts: 110
    Likes: 13, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 77
    Location: UK

    gwboats Naval Architect

    Qualified Designer

    bhenken08,

    Please see the Boat Design Directory for a comprehensive list of qualified designers (including me!!).

    Don't be worried about using a designer based abroad since most design work is now global.

    At present I am working on a design in the UK, which is building in Turkey, using engineers from Holland and technical backup from Italy, USA and Germany.

    Good luck with your project.

    Graham Westbrook
    Naval Architect
     
  5. kmorin
    Joined: Apr 2005
    Posts: 185
    Likes: 18, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 231
    Location: Alaska

    kmorin Senior Member

    Washington State Aluminum contacts

    bhenken08,

    The Metal Boat Society, has lots of contacts in the Washington area, its based partly in Port Townsend just south of Bellingham.

    Michael Kasten has some aluminum designs and is close to your location, Pete Silva is near you and has done some very nice aluminum yachts.

    I'd think Bill Munson's guys [Bill Munson Boats] in Mount Vernon would know almost everyone in your neck of the woods who build in aluminum?

    John Simpson @ http://www.simpsonmarinedesign.com/contactus.htm has done some nice work in welded aluminum design, many of these projects have been built in BC of course and he'll know that group of builders which is renowned for the 100'Plus "mega-yachts" they produce.

    Tim Nolan, P.E., Naval Architect at Tim Nolan Marine Design, PC, is in Port Townsend I believe and has done lots of larger metal boats, I think that includes aluminum but don't know first hand.

    Rozema is near you somewhere and they're an extremely good aluminum shop and of course so are the Nichols Brothers there (Whidbey Is?) but they seem to focus on ships now days. Both world class builders with solid reputations and the best of work in one off.

    Best of luck with your project

    Cheers,
    kmorin
     
  6. AMFBoats
    Joined: Apr 2008
    Posts: 178
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: New Zealand

    AMFBoats Senior Member

    Hi We are aluminium custom boat builders based in New Zealand. Check out my gallery and web sites. We are quality based in both designs and build. www.amfboats.co.nz and www.amf.co.nz cheers Bevan
     
  7. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
    Posts: 4,519
    Likes: 111, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1009
    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    If you are not made of $$$$$$$$$$$ be sure to avoid like the Devil any yard that has ever built for the military or gov.

    A small yard may have 3 or 4 workers and a fellow or gal in the front , doing the ordering ect.

    After a gov contract the same 3 guys will be hammering away , but 45 folks will be busily doing paperwork up front,
    YOU PAY FOR IT ALL!

    FF
     

  8. Brent Swain
    Joined: Mar 2002
    Posts: 951
    Likes: 38, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: -12
    Location: British Columbia

    Brent Swain Member

    Talk to John Dearborn in Gibson's BC. He has a beautiful boat in the finishing stages in his shop right now . Totally fair, no filler needed.
    Brent
     
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