Yard for Aluminum Fabrication in Third World ?

[Tarboxpete]

I'll be heading south to Mexico and Central America, thence perhaps onward in a westward circumnavigation. I'd like to have an aluminum pilothouse built onto my steel 45' ketch somewhere along the way, hopefully by highly skilled craftpersons who work for fish heads and rice. Anyone know of a yard/builder that might suit? Indonesia? Thailand? etc.

[Banjo]

" highly skilled craftpersons who work for fish heads and rice."

Dear Sailor,

I am sure that your boat is very special to you. But to ask for "highly skilled craftpersons" to do aluminium work for you on your boat and to expect them to work for "fish heads and rice" is highly insulting.

If you want skilled craftpersons to work for you, please be prepared to pay them a decent wage according to their skills and the quality of their work.

Folk less First World than you are also entitled to their dignity and to have the sun shine onto their lives.

Happy sailing,

Banjo.

[Jimboats]

Well, that was a little harsh...but I get the joke. Good luck on your trip!

[Stillraining]

Dang..lighten up Guys...He put a wink smily face in there as a sign for wishfull thinking.

Im all for it ..if I can get someone skilled for little to nothing why not?

The demise of the economy is everybody thinking their worth 100 bucks an hour....Im totally into paying some so called trades persons I've had work for me in fish heads...

[Tarboxpete]

Sorry Banjo, didn't mean to offend. I was just being silly, but I can see that it sounds offensive. Point well taken. In reality, when I occasionally hire day laborers for gardening of something I pay them well above the going rate. I find that contrary to the anti-immigrant hysteria, they (Latinos in my part of the country) by and large have better work ethic and family values than your average gringo. Uh oh, now who have I offended? Not saying that illegal immigration isn't a problem, just that the individuals are not "criminals" . Well, I better stop babbling. I sure know how to obliterate a thread.

[Boracay]

You could check out this bloke in Northern NSW.

He's not cheap but does have a good reputation.

[Ram]

Stainless arch , aluminum canopy I want made up where is the best place to get this done, Im in Greece but will be sailing to Florida this winter and can stop along the way, its its worth wile- or where in Florida can I have this work done at a fair price?

[beau]

I used Aluminium Marine at Thornlands,Brisbane, Australia.
They built my 40 ft trimaran in Aluminium.
They build large aluminium ferries.
If they are not too busy they will build for you on an hourly rate.
Welding and fabricating Aluminium is a specialist industry.
I would make sure the people you use are professional boatbuilders not just aluminium welders.
It MUST also be done under cover and windproof environment.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by beau

I used Aluminium Marine at Thornlands,Brisbane, Australia.
They built my 40 ft trimaran in Aluminium.
They build large aluminium ferries.
If they are not too busy they will build for you on an hourly rate.
Welding and fabricating Aluminium is a specialist industry.
I would make sure the people you use are professional boatbuilders not just aluminium welders.
It MUST also be done under cover and windproof environment.

Thanks Beau,
But I think Australia is just a tad bit off my corse, soI will have to pass on that one-

[daddle]

There are very skilled fabricators all over Latin America and SE Asia. In Malaysia for example. While they don't work for fishheads and rice the price will seem equivalent to the westerner. The work can be as good or better than anywhere else. Actual experience with the styling of western yachts may be limited so you will want some good drawings or sketches.

The amazing thing about even moderate sized towns in Asia is the availability of supplies. There will be streets jammed with specialty metal and hardware shops where you can very likely find any and all basic materials. If they don't have it they will scramble to get it. And the price won't make sense to a westerner used to being completely ripped off by the 'supply chain' that converts 1 cent bolts to 1 dollar marine fittings.

[Ram]

I Suppose I should make clear , Im sailing from Greece to Florida by way of the Atlantic,what im lookin for is a name.e-mail address, website - someone on my way that can give me a price so I can see if its worth the stop- or just sail on to Florida and have it done there-

[DeepFrz]

I don't have a yard name but I remember Scott Flanders talking about the beautiful stainless work he had done in Greece. Or was it Turkey. Maybe you are at the right place now.