Building an Aluminum Sailboat Pt 5 - How to Weld an Aluminum Sailboat
This time on Distant Shores we reach a literal turning point in the build of our new Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat - the hull is turned over to upright position so interior welding can begin! We make the first trip down below where we learn how a proper aluminum weld is made and what is required of welders to meet safety standards. We are then shown how the metal work is inspected so the highest quality construction is achieved.
#boatbuilding #aluminumsailboat #aluminiumsailboat #timelapse #welding
00:00 Show Introduction and episode summary
00:40 Flashback to cruising in the French Waterways
01:17 The hull of Distant Shores IV goes on a road trip to be turned upright
02:18 First look at the interior of the hull
02:53 Fedde Siemensma demonstrates how a weld is made and tested
05:10 Update on the work that's been done since last visit
06:10 Klaas Kuperus shows how welds are inspected
08:57 Discussion on CE safety standards and Lloyd's certification
09:45 Tour of the bow and flashback to Paul making the first weld there
10:17 Upcoming work to be done to complete the hull and time frame for completion
11:48 Next build slot available and what's coming up in future videos
12:13 Meet us at the United States Sailboat Show, Annapolis MD October 13-17, 2022
12:36 END
••••••••••••••••••••••
Special Thanks to:
Enksail Yachts - gebrvanenkhuizen.nl/?lang=en
Satellite Yacht Design - www.yacht-design.nl/
KB Alubouw - www.kbalubouw.nl
KB Alufrees - kbalufrees.nl
Locaboat Holidays - www.locaboat.com/en/
French-Waterways.com - www.french-waterways.com/
Members of the Distant Shores Cruising Club whose support make these videos possible - / distantshorestv
Additional Photography by
Kweekvijver Noord - kweekvijvernoord.nl
Partners:
BRNKL Yacht Security & Monitoring: www.brnkl.io/
Brunton’s Propellers: www.bruntonspropellers.com/
Seldén Mast / Furlex: www.seldenmast.com/ Lewmar: www.lewmar.com/
Raymarine: www.raymarine.com/
Scanstrut: www.scanstrut.com/
Navionics Charts: www.navionics.com/
GN Espace Galley Systems: www.gn-espace.com
Highfield Classic Inflatable: www.highfieldboats.com
Oceanskies Yacht Registration: www.oceanskies.com/yachts/
Gebroeders van Enkhuizen Boatbuilders - gebrvanenkhuizen.nl/?lang=en
••••••••••••••••••••••
About Paul and Sheryl Shard
The Shards are award-winning travel documentary television producers and videographers who have been sailing internationally since 1989 documenting their global adventures for television, social media, in books and sailing publications. They have sailed over 110,000 nm including 9 ocean crossings and are the producers and presenters of the Distant Shores sailing adventure TV series which is broadcast to 47 million households in 24 languages around the world. Through their TV programs, KZread videos, articles/blogs and popular boat show cruising seminars, the Shards help anyone dreaming of setting sail to get out on the water and experience their own adventures safely and comfortably.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Gifts for Sailors!
Own the Whole Distant Shores Collection! All 157 full half-hour ad-free episodes of the Distant Shores Sailing Adventure TV series are available as HD downloads and also on DVD through the Distant Shores website. Cruise to the Caribbean and Bahamas, the Mediterranean and more! Get the whole set which is perfect for binge-watching, curing the blues and also makes a great gift for the sailor in your life! Info and order here:
distantshores.ca/sailingdvds/
Downloadable versions: distantshores.ca/sailingdvds/
•••••••••••••••••••••••
You can also connect with us on:
WEBSITE: DistantShores.ca
FACEBOOK: / distantshorestv
INSTAGRAM: / distantshorestv
TWITTER: / distantshorestv
PATREON: / distantshorestv
BUSINESS INQUIRIES: distantshores@rogers.com
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Thank you for watching!
Sheryl and Paul
Пікірлер: 105
Thanks for documenting the process. You have for sure selected a very skilled builder for your dreamboat. I enjoy this in depth episodes. Please continue with these. Cheers.
I can see why it really pays to get the best boatbuilder/engineering team you can afford. The attention to detail, to meet international safety standards and to do so on a reasonable schedule is impressive.
Thanks for this series
Very interesting, I was a mechanical engineer and designed an aluminum electronics enclosure for a navy shipboard auxiliary propulsion system. The problem we ran into with aluminum is the mid section of the enclosure had a tendency to bulge in relation to the top and the bottom. Aluminum welding and maintaining it to spec is truly an art. Probably should have the cabinets built in the Netherlands, they obviously have the experience. Incredible work.
So many welds, and the preciseness is impressive!
Well wow! The Naval destroyer I was stationed on went through extensive overhaul in the Portsmouth (US) Naval Shipyard where the best welders in the world work. The aluminum welds on your boat are every bit as beautiful as anything out of Portsmouth. The testing and inspection philosophies and techniques used on the Orion are first rate! I’m very excited for you both and look forward to a future opportunity for a “Sail Away”! OK, one note: What I think is Paul’s collar-mic would look so snazzy if modified slightly to look like a bow-tie.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this wonderful feedback, David! Sheryl said the same thing about my mic looking like a bow tie. 😂
@Chris-fo8wp
Жыл бұрын
The Dutch are absolutely artists at metal boat building!!
@icarium6031
11 ай бұрын
Best welders in the world? How do you know this?
@normanboyes4983
9 ай бұрын
@@icarium6031It’s an American perspective - like the World Series.😉
aluminum boat is probably the safest boat. particularly when it comes to collisions with rocks. lookin good
Really enjoying watching your videos & will be waiting for you in Egypt to visit the Red Sea 😍🙏
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
We loved our sailing visit to your amazing country back in 2006!! Hopefully we’ll get back soon❤️🇪🇬
Hey Paul and Sheryll, thank you for answering my request regarding the welds. I have watched the last years how Tally Hoe and Acorn to Arabella were constructed, 2 phantstic wooden boats. But to be honest,an aluminium-boat is a very sexy thing too. Interesting is especially the short building time. Can‘t wait for more episodes.
Looking Great! Thanks for sharing.
Wow what a strong structure and the workmanship is amazing.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike! Yes we’re happy with the work done so far
@erichamilton5932
Жыл бұрын
The Dutch have some of the finest craftsmen around.
Thank you for uploading this and keeping us updated on the progress of our new boat.
Beautiful design and engineering. Three-month build is impressive. Short build time must improve quality by keeping a single build crew continuously engaged.
Thanks for sharing this journey with us. Greetings from Bradford, just south of the marvelous Lake Simcoe in beautiful Ontario one of thousands belonging to the people of this vast and great country, Canada. " Que bonita barca-a-vela" is what a Portuguese like me says about this boat. Obrigado.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Obrigado!
Thankyou 👍
Oh wow, what a journey. Keep going
That's beautiful and careful work!
Very cool ... a lot of memories of my build... would love to do it one more time!
Thank you
The boat looks fantastic! What a piece of work.
It’s huge!
Paul & Sheryl...! Simply overwhelming #5...! I can't imagen what could compromise that hull with the exception of sea water... I hope you do tour with the cathodic protection of so much metal...! Fair Winds...
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Captain Ron! I'm glad you're enjoying the series! We are planning an episode devote entirely to managing corrosion on board. It is important for all boats whatever the hull material and often overlooked.
Fascinating work. I had no idea of the meticulous methods for this type of aluminium boat building.
I always wanted to see this being done, and thank you for going into some detail on the weld inspection process! The next steps are sure to be just as interesting. Please try to walk us through the tankage, electrical and plumbing install, as well as how they deal with dissimilar metals, especially those going into sealed, non-observable spaces. Looking forward to running into you again in Annapolis!
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Doug! We re working on detail in-depth videos on electrical and power and other systems in upcoming videos. See you at the Annapolis show!
I miss the travel and episodes, I can’t wait
Looking good, much easier to get a feel for the finished yacht when it is upright. The upside-down walkthrough in the last episode was a bit challenging to visualize (maybe I should have turned my monitor over). One of my questions was answered here, I always wondered if the hull formed part of the tanks or if they sat on the hull - it looks like the former. Hope you include in an episode the installation of insulation, that is another thing I have wondered about aluminum yachts.
That is amazing! But it looks like doing that tedious might lead to lots of issues. But apparently not! Gorgeous work.
I guess it's all about strength but only a few small windows in the hull. It will be interesting to see how light it is inside when it's finished. Can not wait
Another great episode in your build journey & nice to see the fast progress being made. If possible, it would be interesting to hear a comparison between some detailed aspects of the build between fiberglass vs aluminium.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
That's the plan Lance!
HUUUGE! It looks so good.
I love seeing the evolution of your boat. It's hard to imagine what it will be like when it's finished. But then, through computer graphics you've already seen it finished. But I'm sure you too are very excited to see the finished product. To learn to how she sails. I'll be attending the US Sailboat Show and expect I will see you there. : - )
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Please say hello at the show👋
Mouth wide open in amazement!!! Such science too! P.S. Love Dave Brown's bowtie mic comment lolol!!
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind words Gaye!
It would be great to know what welding equipment the welders use. Great work
Super graphics and explanation Paul. Looks professionally made, and makes everything so easy to understand and interesting to watch. This is a far cry from a lot of videos on here where it's camera in one hand and the other pointing a finger..
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Zeffy! The graphics are fun to make but take a while so It’s great to hear they help😀
Some ideas for the new boat: PTZ camera mounted on the mast to give a perfect birds eye view when docking. Telescopic pylon that acts like a push-button anchor.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
I like the mast camera idea as it would be great for docking.
@jimj2683
Жыл бұрын
@@DistantShoresTV I first thought a tethered drone would be ideal, but I think drones are illegal in many places.
Impressive welding work. The boat is shaping up nicely. Congrats! I noticed the window openings on the hull seem small and just a few. Why didn't you decide to add more and larger windows?
I feel like this is the longest build ever
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
This is actually very quick for a custom aluminum sailboat. It’s not like a production line of fibreglass boats built out of a mould.
Great video as always. How do they clean the fine metal particles and slag created from the building & welding processes out of the hull and nooks and cranies before finishing the build and starting the interior fit out? Is it as simple as a powerful vacuum cleaner and someone spending days making sure they've got all the fine particles out or is there different process?
Surprised the have humans welding with machines much more precise
Hi how will it be insulated with spray type ?. Looks amazing I'm not jealous
Curious if you will be painting the hull? I know it's not required but they look so much better when painted.
Amazing work. How many thru holes will the boat have? Can you reduce to one only?
Hi Paul. We spoke at Annapolis where I asked what type of MIG welder your builders used. I speculated it might be a pulse MIG, a relatively new and fare type. You said you would enquire. Thanks.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Looking at our video I see the machine is made by Fronius and appears to be a TransPulsSynergy machine so I suppose you are correct from the name it is a pulse machine :-)
@williamlongyard5887
Жыл бұрын
@@DistantShoresTV I've got to get a bigger screen so I can see that! Thanks. I've written several books that touch on aluminum fabrication and I have to say that this welding is very impressive. I really enjoy the technical details you present, but also your videos on canal cruising. I've done a little of that in France on the Cher leading into the Loire. Bonne route!
I just remember the pain to keep my welders up to the certification. ☺
Amazing, I am an amateur welder and I can't get any aluminum welds to stick.
Thanks for sharing, the hull thickness was incredible, you'll have no problem with icebergs :) An old salt once told me when asked about longevity of hull materials, "steel lasts 100 years, aluminum lasts 50 years and fiberglass lasts forever". That being said, I can see where aluminum could be lighter and faster, additionally I have seen a very old aluminum boat (which was painted) where the salt got under the paint and corroded a hole through the hull and required a huge amount of work. Do the boats that are not painted have the same problem?
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
Commercial Steel boats/ships have a design life of a few decades at most. Aluminum can last forever because when exposed to salt an oxide layer is formed, which is inert and protects the raw aluminum. (This process is called passivation, and the resulting layer is called anodized.) Plastic boats probably last forever. Consider how long the oil they're made from lasted in the ground. Aluminum is probably the most eco-friendly since it's so durable and is fully recyclable.
Do aluminum yachts fare better in lightning strikes due to electronics being almost fully enclosed in a metal shell (Faraday cage effect)? Super interesting to see how these vessels are made. This team of builders is really impressive!
@Cacheola
Жыл бұрын
...and being one big metal lightning attractor out on the sea
looking good guys. what thickness of insulation you going for?
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Simon😊 we have 6cm insulation
You’ve probably already covered this but what aluminium plate alloy and welding electrode designation are you using?
@user-bg4py3bc3t
8 ай бұрын
Электрод не плавится он из вольфрама, марку материала и присадочного прутка и режимы сварки ... Это есть ноу хау судоверфи. Никто не скажет. Это цеховая культура старой Европы, которую пытаются разрушить , но Английское колесо даже ЧПУ не берёт. 🎉
No Brasil construimos barcos de alumínio na garagem, quem quiser ver tem vídeo no KZread veleiro lelei
Ballpark what are they cost for the different sizes and yours is a 49 but is there a 38 and a 44 or is everything custom?
Just for interest's sake, why did they do staggered welds of the stringers to the hull? To reduce stresses on the metal, perhaps?
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Zuko. The staggered welds reduce the stresses that can come from welding. Its similar to doing full welds on either side which make even support.
@ZukoMbewu
Жыл бұрын
@@DistantShoresTV makes sense. Thanks. I am inspired by this build. It has me dreaming.
@julieannecharters6132
2 ай бұрын
The stitch welds on the frames prevent too much heat input and shrinkage which would pull the plates over the frames creating a starved horse look which would look terrible.
Hi Guys, I was a bit surprised that there was no extraction visible inside the hull. The Argon shield gas is much denser than air and would fill up the hull rapidly with potentially fatal consequences ! Was the extraction just removed for the video? It was great to see the competence testing that the welders undergo, I spent a considerable part of my working life certifying welders for aerospace work and the testing these guys are doing is quite similar - very reassuring 😎
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
The hull was welded with the hull upside down.
It looks cavernous! How much does a boat like this cost?
@greggbutler9344
Жыл бұрын
As least 1.5 million uk £ as a starting price for such a fine vessel like this
do they resuage testing ?
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
All Aluminum scrap is recycled.
I wonder if anyone has tried laser welding for a hull?
so interesting to see how an aluminum sail boat is put together...thanks for documenting the process. Just curious, what is the price tag?
Nice work. I am surprised the foreman said it takes only three months to complete. I wonder how many man hours it takes them to complete this boat?
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
It’s 3 months for the aluminum work of the hull deck. Then a month in the paint shop before the fitting out begins …
4:13 " потолочный шов" свободный от шлаки и мусора за счет гравитации?? С поддувом инертным газом аргоном ( Аргонавты!!) мусора не будет , если культура производства как в этом цеху. Потолочные швы на сосудах ... Это высшая квалификация в любом виде сварки. 🎉🎉🎉
Interesting that they prefer to weld from underneath. That would be a proper nightmare with welding steel.
@DistantShoresTV
Жыл бұрын
Yes it means no debris lands in the area which might contaminate the welds...
Hi Paul, I just watched the video and looks like the boat is coming along great. I have a question. In the video you mention "the tanks". My question is for fuel or water? The reason I ask is that I have had a very bad experience with an aluminum water tank. If it is a water tank be very careful what you may put in it to clean it with. Or to keep the water fresh. !!!! All the best Keith Robinson SV Yolo
looks like an airplane
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
Yes, airplanes have similar construction ideas, but the metal ones are mostly riveted instead of welded.
did i miss the explanation re ballast and keel?
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
I think it was mentioned in earlier episodes.
is 103.000 viewers really enough for financing this dream? how does all this work out or are your pockets just filled from som brilliant business before distant shore? The biggest mystery for me is mostly how does this all stay in flow.
@PhreeJunk
Жыл бұрын
I cannot speak for them but I would say over 30 years of documenting their sailing experiences (pre KZread) and good money management.
@propylaeen
Жыл бұрын
@@PhreeJunk extremly good… I ran a company myself for 13 years in Germany with up to 28 employees paying salaries and insurance, having international clients… I crashed emotionally when my partner died but I have no Idea how to get the funding for such a big project in 2019 I had my eyes on a used Alubat 43 for € 49.000,- and yes it was stupid not to take her… but a newly build 49 at this standard hardly to get her in the water under sails for under € 650.000,- … don’t know how to get finance in the UK or elsewhere but here in Germany your over all assets have to quadruple your yacht investment if you don’t want your bank making jokes on your request.
@PhreeJunk
Жыл бұрын
@@propylaeen sorry to hear about your partner and the turmoil that it caused. Hopefully another great opportunity will come along and you will be able to take advantage of it.
The dutch technician sould talk in his language, it would be more intresting.
I prefer Single Helm and protected all weather like a Amel! Very Well protected cockpit! Maybe just like car or Van You can control window automatically up and down! Also well insulated and as possible as more solar! One more things toshiba's paperless WC toilet sistem! sorry I am just very amator sailer just watching and asking Why? maybe most of them not make sense ! Sorry.
Labor intensive, no wonder the price is so high.
@LoanwordEggcorn
Жыл бұрын
Yes.
I can't figure out for the life of me why you would not incorporate a sugar scoop walk up transom ??? Please tell me why . Following seas ? Why, why, why ?