How to unload Chinese tin boats

[Charter Tofino]

A northwest custom sank at gateway last year for the same reason, does that make NW a bad built boat ???, through hull fail all the time on all kinds of boats, maintenance and inspection of your boat is up to you not the manufacturer , could be as simple as a bad caulking job, crack welds is another story, the is why I look at welds before I look at anything else on a tin boat, tin boats are not my thing would never buy one period, I am just sharing my first hand view of these boats, IMO they are a medium quality boat just like trophy’s is in the glass boats

I am also just sharing my first hand view of these boats. It was the first time I had ever seen one and it did not stay floating very long so thought it was worth mentioning on a thread discussing their build quality.

You will never see caulking fail on a NWAC through hull as it’s fully welded. Welded through hulls, proper scupper clearance, fully closed in transoms and water tight decks. It’s the details that a lot of local builders seemed to have dialled in due to our challenging PNW conditions.

 

[Max123]

Not to hate as I know next to nothing about these hulls but I did see a new one sink while tied to the dock this week. Assumption was a through hull fail or cracked weld. No access below hull so makes for tough inspections.

Well, I guess that answers the upright/level floatation question... Is that the same one as the craigslist ad I posted (looks to be a 300 Merc, but can't tell if its a Seapro)?

 

[brutus]

I am also just sharing my first hand view of these boats. It was the first time I had ever seen one and it did not stay floating very long so thought it was worth mentioning on a thread discussing their build quality.

You will never see caulking fail on a NWAC through hull as it’s fully welded. Welded through hulls, proper scupper clearance, fully closed in transoms and water tight decks. It’s the details that a lot of local builders seemed to have dialled in due to our challenging PNW conditions.

Hard one to explain lol, that one sank I will pull up picture later lol again I am not delusional lol, comparing a NW with a Chinese boat is not even fair, but with a KF is fair game

 

[Samnjoe]

Hard one to explain lol, that one sank I will pull up picture later lol again I am not delusional lol, comparing a NW with a Chinese boat is not even fair, but with a KF is fair game

Easy there!!!!

 

[trophywife]

My poor old Kingfisher is almost 20 years old. Surprisingly hasen't cracked or sunk yet.
Haters be haters. I hear that Chinese aluminum dissolves in water.

the older ones are by far better, mine was 2006 and was an amazing boat. zero issues.

 

[brutus]

the older ones are by far better, mine was 2006 and was an amazing boat. zero issues.

Probably before the rise of the brand, now they mass produce and use whatever welder they can keep on payroll

 

[Rain City]

Lots of positive comments. Gospel is one of the better manufacturers in China, from my understanding, un like some of the Alibaba BS. This one is like other ones on there steeling Silver Streak videos and others their photos without the logo even covered up like it is in this video. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Factory-Direct-27-ft-Aluminum-Fishing_1600987226550.html

Gospel did the exact same thing with a Jasper video.

 

[Buckethead905]

I am also just sharing my first hand view of these boats. It was the first time I had ever seen one and it did not stay floating very long so thought it was worth mentioning on a thread discussing their build quality.

You will never see caulking fail on a NWAC through hull as it’s fully welded. Welded through hulls, proper scupper clearance, fully closed in transoms and water tight decks. It’s the details that a lot of local builders seemed to have dialled in due to our challenging PNW conditions.

That pic was the mic-drop for this entire conversation. I doubt there are that many of these floating around our waters (I’ve never seen one) and to find that exact model of boat that’s already sunk, end of discussion, they are junk. I saw a Chinese aluminium at Parker this year while I was doing my repower, you would not believe how big of a piece of **** that thing was unless you crawled on it yourself, it was shocking.

 

[zurk]

on a more amusing note - this is a $1 million CAD yacht made in China brand new -

Guess it didnt work out because of poor carbon fiber isolation from the stainless (carbon fiber is conductive BTW and has some of the same issues as aluminum) without using washers and epoxy to isolate the stainless fasteners, crappy charge circuitry with mixed AGM/lithium chemistry and a whole bunch of other major issues causing galvanic corrosion and stray currents everywhere.

 

[InterMechanico]

on a more amusing note - this is a $1 million CAD yacht made in China brand new -

Guess it didnt work out because of poor carbon fiber isolation from the stainless (carbon fiber is conductive BTW and has some of the same issues as aluminum) without using washers and epoxy to isolate the stainless fasteners, crappy charge circuitry with mixed AGM/lithium chemistry and a whole bunch of other major issues causing galvanic corrosion and stray currents everywhere.

on a more amusing note - this is a $1 million CAD yacht made in China brand new -

Guess it didnt work out because of poor carbon fiber isolation from the stainless (carbon fiber is conductive BTW and has some of the same issues as aluminum) without using washers and epoxy to isolate the stainless fasteners, crappy charge circuitry with mixed AGM/lithium chemistry and a whole bunch of other major issues causing galvanic corrosion and stray currents everywhere.

these guys are great. Sailing Ruby Rose as well

 

[kaelc]

Gospel did the exact same thing with a Jasper video.

Really? Seems like they have an Australian partner and a few influencers who could produce content. Where did you see it alibaba?

 

[Rain City]

Really? Seems like they have an Australian partner and a few influencers who could produce content. Where did you see it alibaba?

I was speaking with Jason for a couple months. I wanted to see one in person. The ones that were supposed to arrive in June never showed by late August so I gave up. During that time I had followed a lot of their pages. I made a comment on the post when I saw it, they might have taken it down when I did.

 

[Alex_c]

Would love to see someone shoot one of those things with an XRF analyzer and see what kinda alloy they’re actually using for the plate AND the filler material in the weldment.

And “pretty” welds do not equal strong welds. I’d trust a local builder who can actually tell you the manufacturing process, source of materials, and engineering methods/philosophy.

But I’m just an asshole with an internet connection and an opinion.

 

[Marley]

I am always nervous about made in China products. Remember the Johnson street bridge. If PCL got duped what happens to the average boat buyer. Local producers might cost more but you can trust them and you get service if you have issues. I just wish I could afford a bigger locally made boat lol.

Rejection of China-fabricated steel could delay bridge project

All steel fabricated in China for the Johnson Street Bridge may have to be rejected, potentially delaying completion by months, Victoria councillors were told Thursday.

www.timescolonist.com

 

[brutus]

Would love to see someone shoot one of those things with an XRF analyzer and see what kinda alloy they’re actually using for the plate AND the filler material in the weldment.

And “pretty” welds do not equal strong welds. I’d trust a local builder who can actually tell you the manufacturing process, source of materials, and engineering methods/philosophy.

But I’m just an asshole with an internet connection and an opinion.

Tell me you don’t fish with Amundsen reels ????

 

[brutus]

Would love to see someone shoot one of those things with an XRF analyzer and see what kinda alloy they’re actually using for the plate AND the filler material in the weldment.

And “pretty” welds do not equal strong welds. I’d trust a local builder who can actually tell you the manufacturing process, source of materials, and engineering methods/philosophy.

But I’m just an asshole with an internet connection and an opinion.

You do realize that local boats are made of Chinese aluminum ??? Now I did not do a purity test on these boats lol it’s just a fact that 90% of aluminum used in Canada get unloaded out of the same shipping container those boats came in. In fact a huge % of all things made of aluminum comes from china. Again I am in the same BOAT as most on here I don’t trust the quality of nothing coming from china, corporation don’t give a s….and that’s why they source the production in china, labour at 3$ a day or Canada labour at 500$ a day . I wish it wasn’t the case, unless your head is far up where the sun don’t shine lol you refuse to acknowledge the pure fact of the case. Like I mention before I buy lots of stuff from Amazon cause it’s cheaper and it all comes from china

 

[Marley]

You do realize that local boats are made of Chinese aluminum ??? Now I did not do a purity test on these boats lol it’s just a fact that 90% of aluminum used in Canada get unloaded out of the same shipping container those boats came in. In fact a huge % of all things made of aluminum comes from china. Again I am in the same BOAT as most on here I don’t trust the quality of nothing coming from china, corporation don’t give a s….and that’s why they source the production in china, labour at 3$ a day or Canada labour at 500$ a day . I wish it wasn’t the case, unless your head is far up where the sun don’t shine lol you refuse to acknowledge the pure fact of the case. Like I mention before I buy lots of stuff from Amazon cause it’s cheaper and it all comes from china

That is true. I am worried about what the tariffs on aluminum is going to do to boat prices as most of it comes from China.

 

[Fisher_dude]

We had some samples of our product made in china. I work in a 100% alloy shop. Anything that doesn’t rust is pretty much what we work with. The samples that we received back from china were worse than anything we have outsourced here in Canada. Stainless welds that came in rusting and magnetic for example. They have no standards it seems.

 

[Fisher_dude]

Also, I have 2 red seal trades under my belt, both revolving around welding and metal and I wouldn’t own a KF. I also live in the valley they are built in. I’ve seen some interesting cases with them. They have a hard time keeping good welders employed. Any boat manufacturer that doesn’t cover up the center of their last whip/pulse/dab isn’t worth owning.

 

[Fisher_dude]

Good vs bad. The last part of the weld to solidify is the center. If you leave the center visible, and the whole weld is like that, it’ll crack right down the middle due to a weak point in the center of all the pulses/whip/dab. I always go by a rule of 1/3 visable, 2/3 covered. That way you get lots of reinforcement for the weld and if your prep
Was good, you have nothing to worry about.