Aluminium Boat Builders in NZ / AUS and Worldwide

[gouralnik]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all well. You guys simply rock out. Hundreds of threads and dozens of books later: a very long story and an endless obsession cut short: I'm working my arse off and saving money for a aluminium monohull boat. Will be buying stock/custom plans either from Holland (van de stadt, djikstra) or from Australia (radford) within the next year. Aluminium, 45-57ft cutter rig, simplicity and ease of maintenance - design will be following the upside-down approach - if the boat is upside down, then...
Plan is: build the best possible hull + superstructure and fit it out with bare necessities inside. Then sail and see what is not needed.

QUESTION: what boatyard in your opinion is the best in regards to specialist aluminium hull construction. Particularly interested to build either in NZ or AUS. If not then Holland or Canada. Thank you for your input and have a good day. Cheers, S

[dana-tenacity]

If the moderators will forgive me, try asking here

Crew.org.nz

Many boatbuilders on the forum.

[DeepFrz]

If you are going to build in Canada then I think Kanter is the premier builder of Aluminum boats.

Kanter Yachts

De Villiers in NZ has worked with Kanter but he lists a number of builders he has worked with somewhere on his web site.

De Villiers Design - LISO 39' Cruising Cutter

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

If you are going to build in Canada then I think Kanter is the premier builder of Aluminum boats.
Kanter Yachts
De Villiers in NZ has worked with Kanter but he lists a number of builders he has worked with somewhere on his web site.
De Villiers Design - LISO 39' Cruising Cutter

✓ Indeed!

[gouralnik]

Hi,

thank you very much for your kind replies. I was hoping that more information will get accumulated. DeepFrz thank you. Very nice design indeed.

Keep bombarding me with info.

[bewitched]

I did quite a bit of research into this about 3 years ago as I wanted to do the same - but in the end realised that I couldn't afford to do it.

I'd add Holland to you list - some very good yards there - some links from the VDS website if I remember.

I'd also urge you to take a look at Fuad Jacobs in Capetown. (search Jacobs Bros). A small outfit. I visited him and his alu work is way up there with the best and his prices are very reasonable.

In my opinion his interior work is not up there with the Dutch yards, but if you're going for the minimalist approach internally this might be a nice fit for you.

Good luck with the project and please please please keep us updated.