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Boatguy30 · 08-12-2014, 04:35

There is another company in NJ called metal creations. I had them make me an alloy arch last month for $1400. Unfortunately shipping was another $400 as it was 10.5' wide. Many of the local places were quoting $1200 deposit for materials and a finished cost of $2500 to $3500.

I'm fairly happy with the finished result, but am having about $250 worth of mods including welded front pads. All the premade towers come with adjustable mounts which seem to allow a bunch of sway.

An even cheaper option and maybe ok for some is a fish on sports arch for $1100. One good thing about a take apart deal is you could sell it at some point on EBay for maybe 60 to 70% of what you paid if you want to remove it.

Other issue on a narrow stern monohull is that you often need to replace the stern pulpit and integrate it into the arch which adds a bunch of cost.

Sam the Sailor · 08-12-2014, 05:05

Thanks a lot for the answers! They were really helpful.

msponer · 08-12-2014, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Mine were $5,000. Quote from other place was $11,000 to $12,000 USD.

So not cheap! But my davits are made to cross oceans with.

Mark, do you have photos? I want to see -- I remember talking about how you'd design them...

autumnbreeze27 · 08-12-2014, 16:39

10k seems high for an arch. We got a hard dodger, hard Bimini, bitchin ladder, and boom extension for 12k. Radar arch should be 2500-3500

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Vasco · 08-12-2014, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by autumnbreeze27

10k seems high for an arch. We got a hard dodger, hard Bimini, bitchin ladder, and boom extension for 12k. Radar arch should be 2500-3500

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Maybe a simple radar arch but if you want a substantial arch capable of supporting a heavy dink and motor I think 6K would be about a minimum these days using 1 1/2"stainless. Aluminum would be cheaper.

**nigel1** · 10-12-2014, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezydays

Nigel, Those davits look very nice. I am looking at similar for a B423 and am based in UK on the South Coast. Can you give details of the fabricator ? Do they make the stern "squat " at all when loaded with the dinghy ?
Thanks
Keith

Keith, sorry for late reply.
This is the company which made them, (near Liverpool). I sort of balanced the extra weight aft with another 60m of chain forward.#
The dink originally sat in the sugarscoop, and the engine was on the rail, so the davits were not a big addition in weight, but the solar panels added a bit.

SV.Maverick · 10-12-2014, 11:07

I like the look of the arch in a box. The days of 10k for a arch are over just as the cost of solar and everything else decreases so do arches. In fact Atlantic are going to need to reduce their price to compete with fish on who have been selling like crazy to the sailing community. They sell a 2" aluminum arch in a box with free shipping for about 800 bucks!

BrettB · 21-01-2017, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV.Maverick

fish on who have been selling like crazy to the sailing community. They sell a 2" aluminum arch in a box with free shipping for about 800 bucks!

Who? I've been looking at Atlantic, but would love to find a better price elsewhere..

toddster8 · 21-01-2017, 21:59

I've seen boatyards offering monstrous take-off radar arches for free on Craigslist. Of course, the chances that they fit your boat and your taste may be small.

SV.Maverick · 23-01-2017, 06:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettB

Who? I've been looking at Atlantic, but would love to find a better price elsewhere..

Just google Fish on Arch it will take you to there web site.

DotDun · 23-01-2017, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettB

Who? I've been looking at Atlantic, but would love to find a better price elsewhere..

I just installed an Atlantic arch. So far, I'm impressed.

UNCIVILIZED · 23-01-2017, 07:54

Guys, to be clear, a huge component of stiffness is tube diameter. As stiffness goes up as a cubed function, assuming the similar wall thicknesses & material. So that the stiffness of an arch will be more affected by it's design, & tube size, than by the stainless vs. aluminum thing.
However one has to be smart about it's welding, given the strength losses in aluminum when heated, & the brittleness of some materials when welded. Both in alloys of steel, & aluminum. And neither is immune to corrosion.

Another, prettier option, is to go with a composite structure. Which it'll also be more aerodynamic. Though with intelligent design, a metal structure can be more aerodynamic than most of the welded tubing ones out there. And done right, a structure with integrated, monocoque fairings, can be a stiffer, stronger structure regardless of the materials used.

Parasitic drag bites.

Clipper4730 · 23-01-2017, 08:40

We installed an Atlantic tower in box on our Bene and love it. It does move around a bit with the dink hanging on it in a seaway but not enough to cause alarm. It took us two days to install but are happy with the result. We may fabricate some additional braces but we are not in a hurry. We got the heavier duty pipe and fabricated our own solar panel mounts.

Good luck!