the start of hugh......going for a new boat and will build it out myself...gulp

[Apherel]

Great thread for those of us specifying a classy boat!

I'm looking at getting a removable rear bench seat, would you mind posting details about how yours is set up? What sort of fittings did you use, what does it look like, and how does changing the setup really work in practice (ie is it an easy task or one you really have to want to do?)

Thanks

[Hugh Jardon]

i will get some pics of the rear of the boat and the anchor nuts etc so you can have a good look......

will get the pics tomorrow for you if the weather holds here as we have had a lot of rain of recent

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

if it helps anyone who is looking to get some work done on their boats then i have used the following companies for the supply, manufacture etc of various items for my boat and the individuals and companies have provided excellent support, willingness to meet custom requirements and have given very high quality with a competitive price.

For the tubes i have used RibCraft in Yeovil, they are happy to do retubing work for many different types of boat as well as supplying their own excelent line of boats. They are well regarded for their quality of tube work and there are plenty of ribcrafts out there for you to check their work. I will post some pics of the tubing when i pick up the boat.

http://www.ribcraft.co.uk/

For the stainless steel work for the boat I have used Marine Fabrications, they will manufacture pretty much anything you want and are extremely helpful, Ask for Mark, everyone who has seen my stainless steel work has commented on the quality of the workmanship

http://www.marinefabrications.co.uk/

For the upholstery I have used MasterTrim, Loui is the contact there and they are willing to undertake any work you require and to your individual specification. I will post pics of the upholstery when i pick it up in a couple of weeks.

http://www.master-trim.co.uk/

for the trailer i have purchased an SBS ELR2 1800 single axle which takes a 1400kg load with a total all up weight of 1800kg. The trailer tows very well and has many significant design benefits over snipe and hallmark (i have a hallmark as well) and again they are easy to do business with.

http://www.sbstrailers.co.uk/index.asp

For the engine and many of the various components for the boat I used Ron Hale marine. Ross is the contact there and they were very competitive and helpful with my requirements around the engine and its fitting and also the supply of various ancilliary boat bits and bobs.

http://www.ronhalemarine.co.uk/

for the steering I have used Sea Star from Hypro Marine, again very helpful and easy to do business with, the kit is very high quality and has a great reputation. contact there is Steve

http://www.hypromarine.com/

for fasteners i have used protex which are great but expensive

http://www.protex-fasteners.com/

Thanks to those that contacted me with recommendations of folks they had used previously, I contacted a lot of companies both local and distant and I found the suppliers I have listed to be the best balance of Quality/workmanship/ease of doing business/competitive pricing/genuine people



good luck with your own projects..

Jabs....here is the upholsterers i used, they did a great job and at half the price of anyone in the solent area

[JABS]

Thanks Chris!


What is the status of your trailer? Still keen on the manufacturer?

Just curious.

Best

Tony

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

Jabs....here is the upholsterers i used, they did a great job and at half the price of anyone in the solent area

I'll second that. Mastertrim were literally half the price I was quoted by a local company. They did a good job too.

John

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by JABS

Thanks Chris!


What is the status of your trailer? Still keen on the manufacturer?

Just curious.

Best

Tony

i have been so busy i have not had time to update on the situation on the trailer

as some of you know my bearing failed, it was a sealed type. i called SBS trailers and avonride,

Avonride were very surprised that the bearing had failed so early and suggested that i call sbs to put in a warranty claim, this was even though i had had the boat trailer for some 18 months.
i spoke with sbs and they were extremely helpful, they spoke with avonride, and a brand new whole axle was dispatched to me free of charge.
unfortunatley it was delayed by 2 weeks as avonride close down for 2 weeks holidays.
but i have the axle i fitted it a week or so ago and is perfect again.

i hear stories of some people buying some makes of trailers and their bearings fail within 2-3 months and they are told to sling their hook as the boat trailer should not be put in the water. that would not be "fit for purpose" in my book.

however for me.....

avon ride and SBS have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have done me a great service and i am a very happy customer

would i buy another sbs trailer...........definately

would i prefer the hubs to have roller bearings.........yes please and i will specify these for my next trailer so i can service them

but am i a happy chappy..........you bet

would i recommend an sbs trailer to others..........absolutely without any doubts

next job is to fit my keel guard at the weekend if the weather allows!!

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I'll second that. Mastertrim were literally half the price I was quoted by a local company. They did a good job too.

John

for me some of the robbin Barstewards in the solent wanted 2.5 x the price mastertrim charged me and i can not fault the work they did in any way

big thumbs up

especially as everything i asked for was totally custom in terms of size, materials, piping, dimensions, heights etc etc from anything else they have done for ospreys

i must admit when i was buying the bits for the boat and dealing with these small companies i was so impressed and overwhelmed by what a great service they would provide and for such a great price as well.

everyone i dealt with were just great

mind you when i did research it i did come across a few companies that probably dont need the work anyway and would just price it accordingly and some others were just plain uninterested and uninspiring.

so it pays to shop around but these guys were great

[Cookee]

Companies we use


http://www.hypromarine.com/

Hypro are the best contact we know for hydraulic steering systems, Steve is very knowledgeable give him an engine and a boat and he'll tell you what you need!


http://www.protex-fasteners.com/

Protex make the best fasteners for a number of applications, they sponsor us (to be fair my cousin owns the company so I might be a bit biased!) and if you're not sure what you need feel free to email me and I'll point you in the right direction!

http://tidel.biz/

Paul Tilley doesn't need an introduction here - top class tubes!

http://www.mastertrim.co.uk/

Good people and don't overcharge!


Ps here are a couple of photos of the rear seat from Mastertrim from our own design.

[JABS]

My seats went ot Mastertrim today. They quoted a great price and were so positive!

I will report if they screw up, but I can't see it!

On the trailer front...

Why not take the hubs apart, dimension the bearigs and source the configuration you want??

Tony

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Companies we use


http://www.hypromarine.com/

Hypro are the best contact we know for hydraulic steering systems, Steve is very knowledgeable give him an engine and a boat and he'll tell you what you need!


http://www.protex-fasteners.com/

Protex make the best fasteners for a number of applications, they sponsor us (to be fair my cousin owns the company so I might be a bit biased!) and if you're not sure what you need feel free to email me and I'll point you in the right direction!

Some very useful contacts - no harm in spouting about your cousin's company - their products are highly thought of Worldwide. I know they concentrate of catches but there is one product I feel they should make to compliment their range - nice stainless reccessed tie down eyes. It just looks like their kind of product - maybe a word in the right direction may help???

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by codprawn

maybe a word in the right direction may help???

His wife is about to give birth to their first child at the moment, so he could be forgiven for having his eye off the ball, but I'll be sure to mention it to him!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Cookee

His wife is about to give birth to their first child at the moment, so he could be forgiven for having his eye off the ball, but I'll be sure to mention it to him!

Must be the longest pregnancy on record then. Still hope all goes well. Mate of mine's wife just given birth - 12lbs 9oz in weight!!! They ok though.

[Cookee]

Just for the record - Sunday night a baby boy!

[JABS]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Just for the record - Sunday night a baby boy!

Hope he will be on the water this weekend!

Start the indoctrination early!

Tony!

[Hugh Jardon]

Boat is now sold and is going to a loving new owner. I get lots of questions about the build and what bits and pieces i specifically used, measurements and dimensions etc, so feel free to send questions and i can post pics of items if that helps. I have quite a few pics of everything eg hinge placement, gaps, etc etc etc so happy to share info..

these boats are superb bits of kit so i am sure you will have lots of fun if you get one too

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

Boat is now sold and is going to a loving new owner. I get lots of questions about the build and what bits and pieces i specifically used, measurements and dimensions etc, so feel free to send questions and i can post pics of items if that helps. I have quite a few pics of everything eg hinge placement, gaps, etc etc etc so happy to share info..

Info you largely gleaned from my boat.

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Info you largely gleaned from my boat.

actually i had never even seen an osprey vipermax in real life before i saw my hull at its very early stages at mikes and decided to buy it. And it did not look like a boat then.

the first kitted out osprey vipermaxs i saw was Nugents and Humpers as i visited them on the way home. i took lots of pics and had lots of chats and both guys were very very helpful with hints and tips and pointers

Nugent has to take the credit for getting me into the osprey vipermax and giving me good back ground info on them and who to go to for all components

I never even saw your actual boat until mine was finished. However when we met after the boat show you told me about yours etc but nothing really sank in properly as it was a pipe dream at that time and i had not settled on any particular boat. Richarb B was also very helpful and gave rave reviews on the vipermax hull

Sorry mollers you cant take all the credit, only a proportional amount

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

Sorry mollers you cant take all the credit, only a proportional amount

I don't want any of it.

[Hugh Jardon]

sob sob sob Just waved goodbye to the boat as it has just left for its new home on the coast.

However the new owner is a very nice chap and will have a great time I am sure.

[ian parkes]

so whats next Hugh?