welder

New boat and of course Alloy . With the lighter hull /Weight I was thinking Cummins . Are the cummins for the same HP as a Cat better on fuel ?

Yes this would be a New build , I am partial to the Northern Lights unit only because that's what I have dealt with . I see your point with the 240VAC running the AC units = Less amp draw

Didn't want to mix this with the Diesel Power plant thread .... What Generator should I look at and why ? What KW would be needed to run my 45' Sport Fisher , All Electronics, AC, Battery maintainer , 120VAC and 12VDC, all the comforts of home on board.

I want to buy a 45' Sport Fisher with twin Diesels . What power plants do y'all think I should be looking for/at and WHY. Also what transmissions should I be looking at ?

Paul , thanks for the conversation so far , It's cool that we can talk and not bash each other and this is what this forum is all about . I off to start another thread.

Here is a link to a 34' alloy boat that is all welded and has been ground on then painted. http://www.aluminumalloyboats.com/viewtopic.php?p=14513#p14513

Most that buy Alloy Fishing boats are not looking for SEXY , there looking for FUNCTIONAL . If you want sexy bring lots of money because it takes lots of linear weld to produce sexy curves because the alloy plate used is so tough [ almost Armor plate] it does not bend in tight radius's. The sound deal is mainly when at rest you hear the small slap of water on the hull at high speed it's no big deal and the sound can be deadened with spray in bed liner and the right [ I said the RIGHT ] foam and installed correctly . Build price , well, the material is expensive and it requires SKILLED labor to build . A alloy boat can be built in a simple jig as where a glass hull, Deck and cap has to be laid up in molds that can cost Hundreds of thousands of dollars and of course there is NO wood in a Plate Alloy hull. Lots of new designs have came about in the last few years making for Better ride and more user friendly features.

Just look at your local Coast station for alloy in the water in Sc or FLA , been using it for YEARS. Typically Alloy hulls are a little lighter for the same size boats BUT that means less power to push them , and they carry more weight/load .

I worry about them in the salt , can't use reg bottom paint , don't ride as well , noisy ( goes for steel as well) what if you do damage it ? how do you make it look good ? easy on wood or glass even steel as its painted . maybe a great boat for some but not for me Yer right, can't use bottom paint with COPPER in it. We have some now that ride as good or better than glass [ see Rocksalt and MetalShark boats ] If you damage it [ Alloy ] just weld in a new piece grind/sand smooth and buff or paint , with a open mid it's a lot easier to work on than a glass or wood boat. Typically Alloy boats are painted above the water line and raw below.

Main Sheet [ Who knows what that is ?]

prowlersfish, What did you have and why did you change? Like I said above , No big deal , just trying to get some honest posting going.

Posting

No more concerns than a glass boat IF the right Alloy is used [ Marine Grade Alloy ] and the proper protection is used just as with a glass boat . One of the really nice things about Plate Alloy is when you haul out and want to pressure wash it just hammer down as the algae and other critters do NOT get into the Alloy and it does NOT delaminate.

I don't know why most people DON'T GET IT , why would you want something that goes in Salt Water , get blood and guts, Puke, urine [ some can't aim or aint loooong enough ] pull it out and spend 100's if not 1000's to clean it/keep it clean. Why would you want a boat that just beaching it could cost $1000.00's . Why would you want a boat that gets rock chips on the High Way.. Why not have a Dive boat made out of Alloy , Tanks and weight belts don't hurt it, you can have killer side entry doors. Why not have a guide boat that Kids and non boaters cant hurt with Weights and all the stuff listed above. I would like to hear reasons why they are not considered and legitimate reasons why . Also if you did look at a Alloy boat WHAT would YOU WANT in/on your Alloy boat. This isn't a , MY BOATS BETTER THAN YOUR BOAT thread , just trying to get some talk going here.

You girls behave now...

Drunk

Yep, you NEVER use a battery charger on A battery while it is still connected to your Alternator , you either make sure ALL of your Battery switches are in the OFF position or take the battery out of the system [ disconnected ] . On board chargers are used after you turn the battery switch to the ALL OFF POSITION . You will want to have your Alternator checked , you may have burnt a Diode .

Wet

Both

Boobies

Boobies

BOOBIES

BOOBIES

Cleavage

Go until you can't go anymore. Most that stop just go home and die. Get yourself a 23'Plate Alloy boat so when you hit the dock, The rocks or the Beach the boat is fine BUT the best part is the maintenance is minimal so your not beating yourself up trying to keep it up.