Re: Welded aluminum runabouts
I take it you have had a close look at the hull design they use. The V hull has cross braces and then there is the reverse chine, then the sides go up from there. The sides are seam welded at the chine edge and there is a angle aluminum stiffener/protector over this weld. The side terminates at the very substantial upper rail. Along the inside of the sides (on my boat at least) there are long storage pockets that are welded to the side. These run from the transom to just behind the seats about mid height on the sides. <br /><br />Mine is an older boat, only the fourth he ever made, so some things are different than the newer ones, but not substantially.<br /><br />There are two small stress cracks on mine where the bottom corner of the windshield frame is welded to the main hull. Nothing serious and when I get time he'll fix them up for me, but the boat is also about 16 years old. He has also changed the way he connects the windshield frame to the hull, so as to elminate the inherent stress there from three different welds meeting at the same point.<br /><br />All in all, value for dollar, I decided on the Sooke boat over the Duncan one, even though I bought mine used. There are also other aluminimum welded boats made, I believe, in Prince George. They are lighter and more intended for Lake use.<br /><br />Hope this helps you out a bit. As with anything that is being custom built for you (as all his boats are made to order) be sure to get all the details worked out ahead of time and written down with pricing and time frames, just to cover your own butt. But if you are looking to buy in Canada your dollar will sure go a long way here.<br /><br />Let me know if you intend to come up this way and you can check mine out, even though it is much smaller than what you are looking at. Probably wouldn't hurt to go see him and his shop and some of the boats in production as well if you are getting serious.<br /><br />Good luck.
