Aluminium Hulls

[ncp]

Just for the heck of it, I emailed the guys at Specmar in Oregon, USA. I specifically asked about the 7.7m OB rib.

-To estimate cost of aluminum and CNC cutting, multiply the weight of the hull in pounds by $3.50. So, for the 7.7m hull, 2,665 lbs x $3.50 = $9,327.75 for just the pre-cut aluminum, on a pallet -cost of shipping is additional.
-To estimate cost of tubes, they say to multiply $435/ft x the number of feet. In this case, 25. Estimated cost of tubes, $10,875.00 from Wing Inflatables in Arcata, CA, USA (wing has the CAD drawings to produce the tubes). When completed, Wing will then charge for installation (at your location, if necessary). I'm going to wager a guess here and say that these "base model" tubes are without rubstrake, lifelines, wear patches, etc. - and we know how fast those things add up!!!
-Cost of plans: $3,000

Total: $23,202.75 (Without: shipping of aluminum, cost of labor for welding hull, cost of fabrication of console/seats/etc, engines, misc. hardware/steering/electronics)

All in rigged with engines and trailer, just a guess on my part $80,000????

[ncp]

Originally Posted by ncp

Just for the heck of it, I emailed the guys at Specmar in Oregon, USA. I specifically asked about the 7.7m OB rib.

Just found this advertisement:
Alaska Boat Brokers - Commercial Boat Details
No rigging, no engine! I still think that you could contract build this for cheaper.

[petes]

Thanks again for all your input. I'm confident that aluminium (aluminium alloy) really is the way to go. I've been working it for 25 years now and know it pretty well as a construction material.
I would be keen to get any construction information photos etc.
I'm not sure as to go for spray rails or a 'stepped' design hull so would be interested to here any views on the performance of either.
I would imagine a stepped hull would be slightly trickier to manufacture...

[jyasaki]

NCP, sounds about right, if not a little low-ball.

6 years ago, my 17.5' RIB, hull, tubes, and rigged engine (F115, at about $8500 US) was a tad shy of $50K.

Aluminum prices spiked shortly after (along, I presume, with the projected replacement cost of my boat) when China started importing everything they could get their hands on. Don't know what's happened with aluminum prices since, but you can assume all others (shipping, labor, etc) have gone up as well.


jky

[petes]

If I were to manufacture more than one hull/boat I would definitely not be outsourcing anything to China!!!

The workmanship of most items manufactured out there is a joke. China is a great place for western business people to exploit for the cheap labour, but long term, no benefit to the consumer or our country.
I can't talk for every industry, but I still believe that if you want specialist items of quality, the UK is still the place. All be it many specialist manufactures here have been destroyed by the suits and there lust for quick profits with no regards to the need for lasting quality.
Rant over!!
In all honesty the cost of the aluminium is fairly irrelevant to the cost of the finished job. The cost is in the labour of the construction. We pay more for steel than aluminium presently!!
I see no reason however why the overall purchase cost of an aluminium hull should be that different to a good quality GRP hull, provided the job set up was properly organised...

[Will75]

Originally Posted by petes

If I were to manufacture more than one hull/boat I would definitely not be outsourcing anything to China!!! The workmanship of most items manufactured out there is a joke. China is a great place for western business people to exploit for the cheap labour, but long term, no benefit to the consumer or our country. I can't talk for every industry, but I still believe that if you want specialist items of quality, the UK is still the place. All be it many specialist manufactures here have been destroyed by the suits and there lust for quick profits with no regards to the need for lasting quality. Rant over!! In all honesty the cost of the aluminium is fairly irrelevant to the cost of the finished job. The cost is in the labour of the construction. We pay more for steel than aluminium presently!! I see no reason however why the overall purchase cost of an aluminium hull should be that different to a good quality GRP hull, provided the job set up was properly organised...

Hi Pete. Where are you located?

Cheers

Will

[petes]

Hi Will, I'm in Ironbridge Shropshire. Business is in Madeley Shrops (www.metalcraftltd.com) Excuse website! Its very simple, but sort of does the job!!

[Ezgoing]

Lads

Did BG not have an aluminium rib approx eight - ten year ago...built in wales

A Shaun White Ocean Dynamics boat???

OCEAN DYNAMICS I Shaun White & Bear Grylls

Rgds

[willk]

Worth a mention: Flugga Boats home page

There's a lot of them about, but I suspect that the costs are horrendous. You have the whole corrosion thing too...

[95gstnj]

Check out this site

Aluminumalloyboats.com

Lots and lots of info on building with aluminum