Weldcraft Boats

I have a 22' Weldcraft Mavrick. It's not the model that you are looking for but I can tell you from 5 years of experience that Weldcrafts are a very well built boat. I have had a lot of boats over the years and this is the most "overbuilt" one that I have ever owned. My only complaint is that they didn't do a good job of cleaning out all of the aluminum shavings from the building process. To this day I am still finding them in the bilge. Pretty minor complaint in the big scheme of things. Weldcraft is a sister boat of Duckworth as they are both owned by the same company and built in the same factory.
 
I like those Weldcrafts but I like the looks of the Duckworth Offshore even more (same hull just slightly different lines and cabin). These guys really did there homework and when North River almost went titters it was perfect timing for them to come out with these models to compete with the ever popular North River Seahawk O/S.

There are some really great features built into these boats. Here is a link to a thread on the AAB site showing a Duckworth Offshore build with lot's of factory photos from start to finish.

http://www.aluminumalloyboats.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3634
 
This is a good vid showing all the nice features built into these hulls.

[zJreogJWKQo] http://youtu.be/zJreogJWKQo


Here's a funny vid of the same boat.

[WmxJmkUix_A] http://youtu.be/WmxJmkUix_A
 
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I have 2 Weldcraft boats, a 22' Maverick with a 225 Honda & 9.9 Honda kicker + (TR-1), 2 Scotty's and good electronics except no radar. The Other is a 26' Oceanking with a 225 Evinrude, 9.9 Honda kicker + TR1, 4 Cannons and more electronics with Radar. Both had been good boats, cut thru the chop nicely. I have noticed other boats use .250 Alum for the bottom, WC uses .190 even on the 26 footer. Don't know if it really matters. I also don't know if they use marine grade 5086 alum, have asked, never responded to my email. Planning a trip to Nootka Sound end of July, which of the 2 should I bring?
 
Wilbyfishing said:
I have 2 Weldcraft boats, a 22' Maverick with a 225 Honda & 9.9 Honda kicker + (TR-1), 2 Scotty's and good electronics except no radar. The Other is a 26' Oceanking with a 225 Evinrude, 9.9 Honda kicker + TR1, 4 Cannons and more electronics with Radar. Both had been good boats, cut thru the chop nicely. I have noticed other boats use .250 Alum for the bottom, WC uses .190 even on the 26 footer. Don't know if it really matters. I also don't know if they use marine grade 5086 alum, have asked, never responded to my email. Planning a trip to Nootka Sound end of July, which of the 2 should I bring?
Click to expand...

ahem...showoff! haha. take em both! tow the 22 with the 26!
 
If I had both those boats I would take the big one but that being said you could take a 16-18 footer and have no trouble at all. Ferry cost are pretty steep but if you own both those boat I'm sure you will be ok. I see that you own both Scotty and Cannon downrigger which ones do you prefer? I just got a TR1 and so far it has been great do you like them have you had any trouble with them?
 
Which ever one you don't need drop it at my place...I will give it a good home.

Wilbyfishing said:
I have 2 Weldcraft boats, a 22' Maverick with a 225 Honda & 9.9 Honda kicker + (TR-1), 2 Scotty's and good electronics except no radar. The Other is a 26' Oceanking with a 225 Evinrude, 9.9 Honda kicker + TR1, 4 Cannons and more electronics with Radar. Both had been good boats, cut thru the chop nicely. I have noticed other boats use .250 Alum for the bottom, WC uses .190 even on the 26 footer. Don't know if it really matters. I also don't know if they use marine grade 5086 alum, have asked, never responded to my email. Planning a trip to Nootka Sound end of July, which of the 2 should I bring?
Click to expand...
 
Wilbyfishing said:
I have 2 Weldcraft boats, a 22' Maverick with a 225 Honda & 9.9 Honda kicker + (TR-1), 2 Scotty's and good electronics except no radar. The Other is a 26' Oceanking with a 225 Evinrude, 9.9 Honda kicker + TR1, 4 Cannons and more electronics with Radar. Both had been good boats, cut thru the chop nicely. I have noticed other boats use .250 Alum for the bottom, WC uses .190 even on the 26 footer. Don't know if it really matters. I also don't know if they use marine grade 5086 alum, have asked, never responded to my email. Planning a trip to Nootka Sound end of July, which of the 2 should I bring?
Click to expand...

I thought that a 1/4 inch thick plate bottom was an unofficial industry standard on boats bigger then 20 feet. I know it is for SilverStreak boats. They use 5086 marine grade aluminum as well.
http://www.silverstreakboats.com/
 
As far as the grade of the aluminum, 5086 has a higher tensile strength than the lower grade in the marine class but in the end the metal strength at the weld becomes lower as unfortunately this is how aluminum reacts when welded. The extra money spent on the higher grade becomes null.
When welding steel it is the weld that is usually stronger than the parent metal.
I was not forming my decision on base metal as much as how many welds when I had my boat built.

Whole in the Water said:
I thought that a 1/4 inch thick plate bottom was an unofficial industry standard on boats bigger then 20 feet. I know it is for SilverStreak boats. They use 5086 marine grade aluminum as well.
http://www.silverstreakboats.com/
Click to expand...
 
I really am indifferent as to the Scotties or the Cannons. I have use the Scots more and thought I would prefer them. But the Oceanking came with the cannons and so far they have worked great. I know the bigger boat is going to be more expensive on the ferry, but not a big difference. As for the TR-1s, I have not had any problems with either of them, other then getting them to talk to my Lowrance HDS units. I think I just need to spend more time on them to set them up and less on fishing (how many r's in fat chance?).
 
As far as the grade of the aluminum, 5086 has a higher tensile strength than the lower grade in the marine class but in the end the metal strength at the weld becomes lower as unfortunately this is how aluminum reacts when welded. The extra money spent on the higher grade becomes null.
When welding steel it is the weld that is usually stronger than the parent metal.
I was not forming my decision on base metal as much as how many welds when I had my boat built.

Well at any rate have not had any problems with either boat.
 
Not really saying that you will it is just that they over rate the 5086 thing. The boats are built with enough strength that the grade does not matter and the cost would be less.
I would think that with the bends in the weldcraft that they would be using 5052 or 5053 which lends itself to bending easier without stress cracking like the 5086. Also weldcraft has some of the best welding I have seen on boats.

Wilbyfishing said:
As far as the grade of the aluminum, 5086 has a higher tensile strength than the lower grade in the marine class but in the end the metal strength at the weld becomes lower as unfortunately this is how aluminum reacts when welded. The extra money spent on the higher grade becomes null.
When welding steel it is the weld that is usually stronger than the parent metal.
I was not forming my decision on base metal as much as how many welds when I had my boat built.

Well at any rate have not had any problems with either boat.
Click to expand...
 
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