Another build thread - Silver Creek Marine 23' Hard top

[Silvercreek]

I'd hold off on the fine finishing work and sell it pretty bare bones. Some people will want it bare bones and if someone wants to add ultradeck, paint, etc you can always negotiate at that time. Very tough to predict what an individual buyer will want so best to leave those final touches to them. Good lookin boat!

I agree, I think that makes the most sense. Thanks!

 

[Fisher_dude]

Will there be a full keel guard?

 

[Silvercreek]

Will there be a full keel guard?

For protection? It has the center vertical keel, and that plate sticks down past the bottom plates about 3/8" or so. Then it's welded on both sides inside and outside. So there is a good solid 3/8" x around and inch wide or so of aluminum on the keel

 

[Silvercreek]

So I want to thank everyone who's reached out to me about interest in the boat or building other boats. Please bare with me as my priority is getting this boat done so I can put it on the market. I've got a ton of money invested into it so the sooner I can recoup my money th better lol.

Bit of a status update:
I thought it would be nice to add a hull stiffener to the sides and finished welding the railings and handles so that concluded the welding. I still had the hatches and doors to finish but I decided it would be good to start installing the rigging, electrical and plumbing. I've been pre ordering most of what I need but there's so many little bits and pieces that are easy to forget. This way when I'm missing something I have enough other stuff to do while waiting for parts. The wholesale supplier I use (western marine) is great, and items arrive the next day except that Loomis only delivers Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If I order something Tuesday morning I get it the next morning but if I need something Friday afternoon that means I won't get it till Wednesday morning aswell.

 

[Silvercreek]

All the wiring and rigging is run up under the gunnels. I put split loom over everything including hydraulic hoses as I like the extra protection it provides. Even though I smoothed the holes in the bulkheads where cables pass through it easy to miss a spot and have a sharp edge that might wear through a cable after many years.

The Seastar tilt helm I installed is ridiculously long under the dash. I measured the length of the main piece but didn't realize there was another attachment that added a few inches. It installed with maybe a mm to spare. I'll put some rubber or something between the fittings so that it doesn't rattle against the bulkhead. It doesn't look like much stuff on the dash but it sure takes a long time to do all the wiring. I also used all heat shrink crimp connectors so that takes a bit longer

 

[wavetamer]

Very nice craftsmanship , are you sure you want to have the battery switch open to the elements specially on a metal boat , Very nice build

 

[Silvercreek]

I missed the picture of the helm on the last post. I need to stop making things so tight. It seems like its always a challenge fitting all the bits and pieces on a boat this size, despite trying to plan for it as much as possible.

So the electrical is done except I need to run a fused 10 gauge wire from the battery to the switch for the bilge pump. Since power runs from the battery at the stern to the dash and then back it's around 40' and the 14 gauge wire I bought won't cut it. Seems like an awfully big wire for such a little pump but that's what the table says (3% voltage drop for critical items like bilge pump).

So rigging is basically done minus actually hanging the motor. I need to rebuild my hatches since I messed that up a bit. Should have planned better on that lol. My windows from AJR are done and shipped out on Friday. The local glass shop is doing the rest of the glass on Thursday. Sooo should be all "done" by then and will install the motor and seats on Friday. Who's coming for a sea (well lake) trial?

 

[Aquaholic]

This build is coming together very quickly, mind you isn't this how you make a living? Smart to do the kitchen sink drain and strainer insert in your fish box at the back. Lots of neat little ideas in your photos, looking really good. What is the stern deadrise on this? 17-18 degrees?

 

[Silvercreek]

Very nice craftsmanship , are you sure you want to have the battery switch open to the elements specially on a metal boat , Very nice build

The holes drilled now! Lol.
I like that its right near where the transom door is and that it easily accessible. No need to open a hatch or anything. I'll put a drip edge over top it and the hatch to keep water running in.

 

[Aquaholic]

Any idea if this would have enough pressure to blast off the scales on a salmon?

 

[Silvercreek]

This build is coming together very quickly, mind you isn't this how you make a living? Smart to do the kitchen sink drain and strainer insert in your fish box at the back. Lots of neat little ideas in your photos, looking really good. What is the stern deadrise on this? 17-18 degrees?

This build is coming together very quickly, mind you isn't this how you make a living? Smart to do the kitchen sink drain and strainer insert in your fish box at the back. Lots of neat little ideas in your photos, looking really good. What is the stern deadrise on this? 17-18 degrees?

I find installing all these parts takes a long time. Atleast to do it right. Western marine is a life saver in getting parts. No need to stand at a parts counter for 30 minutes to get one part or paying retail prices

Gotta try coming up with something a bit unique to be different from everyone else lol. I think it nice to have a decent size drain so it doesn't take forever.

Correct it's 17 degrees at the stern and 18.5 at mid ship.

 

[Silvercreek]

Any idea if this would have enough pressure to blast off the scales on a salmon?


View attachment 76895

I'm not really sure but it says 70 psi, 6 GPM so it should have some pretty good pressure.

 

[Aquaholic]

I find installing all these parts takes a long time. Atleast to do it right. Western marine is a life saver in getting parts. No need to stand at a parts counter for 30 minutes to get one part or paying retail prices ,,.

Correct it's 17 degrees at the stern and 18.5 at mid ship.

I get it, my style is of a perfectionist too, even on my centre console aluminum ex-lodge boat. I pity @Brando for the welding work he did for me with me asking for exacting details! Layout is the key, especially drilling those precious holes.

 

[kaelc]

Good question. I figure I list it for around 110k and see what happens. That's turn key with a new 200 HP mercury, hydraulic steering, seats, sliding side windows, electrical done, wash down pump, wipers, etc etc. and tandem axle aluminum trailer.

Similar size hewsecrafts going for 115k new with 200hp. They're only 3/16 bottom and 1/8 side I think (also probably only 5052). Also probably plywood floor. But the factory boats do look nice with the paint job and vinyl flooring. This is where I wonder do I spend more money (and a lot of time) to finish it nice, paint or vinyl, some sort of covering on the inside. Something nice over the aluminum floor (ultradeck, vinyl, non skid)? I'm worried I just put a more money into it and don't really get anything out of it for the time. I'd love to hear any input on this

Great build! Love how it’s coming together just as spring hits.

I’d leave it as is, but invest in the marketing and then upsell on options. I was trying to sell my Hewescraft for over a month and what got it sold was a video of it running. Guy who had seen my listing the month before had his wife send him the video I posted on Facebook and he came down and bought it same day.

A guy posted the options on a kingfisher in a Facebook group recently, and they were all pricy. You could likely get someone ultra deck to do a mock up and estimate, and then you sell it as an option with mark up. Same with the wrap, paint work.

A good day with a photographer with a drone might cost 1k but could be the basis for 3 more orders or 10. Paying for paint/ultra deck upfront might just get you an a - hole who says I don’t like the colour blue!

thanks for sharing with us!

 

[zurk]

hey silvercreek guys - can you handle bigger boats ? im looking to get quotes for my 40+ footer cat build.

 

[Rain City]

hey silvercreek guys - can you handle bigger boats ? im looking to get quotes for my 40+ footer cat build.

That's gotta be a 400k hull

 

[Silvercreek]

Great build! Love how it’s coming together just as spring hits.

I’d leave it as is, but invest in the marketing and then upsell on options. I was trying to sell my Hewescraft for over a month and what got it sold was a video of it running. Guy who had seen my listing the month before had his wife send him the video I posted on Facebook and he came down and bought it same day.

A guy posted the options on a kingfisher in a Facebook group recently, and they were all pricy. You could likely get someone ultra deck to do a mock up and estimate, and then you sell it as an option with mark up. Same with the wrap, paint work.

A good day with a photographer with a drone might cost 1k but could be the basis for 3 more orders or 10. Paying for paint/ultra deck upfront might just get you an a - hole who says I don’t like the colour blue!

thanks for sharing with us!

That would be a good idea regarding some drone footage. I'm even thinking just to get out on my pontoon boat and get some video footage.

Agree about the paint, everyone has a different colour they like.

 

[Silvercreek]

hey silvercreek guys - can you handle bigger boats ? im looking to get quotes for my 40+ footer cat build.

I wish. Although maybe I could rent a shop and hire a few guys haha. The max I could build is around 32' and that would be a bit crammed. My shops 40' long and has the brake press at the back. I think the largest thing I've built were some 32' x 11' docks

 

[kaelc]

I had a Ukrainian welder reach out yesterday, take the order figure out the details later!!!!

 

[Kinetic]

That's gotta be a 400k hull

At Least, Northwest's 32(ish) foot cat sold for $380k....