How Fiberglass Boats Are Made: I Toured Sportsman Boats Factory and was BLOWN Away
Have you ever wanted to know EXACTLY how fiberglass boats are made? Well, it's an amazing process, and the great folks of Sportsman Boats opened up their factory (in Summerville South Carolina) to us here at Salt Water Fishing University and showed us their entire production process. For example, in this video, you'll learn:
-How a fiberglass mold works with a boat
-How boat stringers are made and how they connect to the hull of the boat
-How the hull and boat are connected together during the manufacturing process.
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Пікірлер: 50
Love the way Sportsman goes about their business. Upfront pricing and blowing away the competition with innovative manufacturing. These guys are just getting started! Great job walking us through the factory.
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
2 жыл бұрын
Agreed Luis! Appreciate that!
@chiphill4856
Ай бұрын
A nice mid/low tier boat.
Hats off to sportsman for making good looking and well layed out boats. I'm not a fan of 2 piece hulls but can't argue that the price point is key to getting as many people out on the water as possible. Great video!
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate that William!
Fished on a Sportsman earlier this year out of Islamorada FL and I was really impressed with how comfortable it was. The captain has been a saltwater pro for 50 years and said it's the best boat he has owned.
I had to wait 14 months on my 302 (at the height of the COVID slowdowns) but it was completely worth it. I LOVE IT! It has met or exceeded my expectations in every way.
Man this was great to see! Thanks for this.
This was a very enjoyable and educational video.
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it Paul!
very cool, thanx
good job!
Beautiful
Very cool post!!👍👍
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
Appreciate that!
Just found your channel, I’m in VB and just got my new Sportsman two weeks ago. Very happy with my purchase. Love the videos. Glad I found your channel.
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
2 жыл бұрын
Nice Jay!! What did you get?
@Jay-xd9wd
2 жыл бұрын
@@saltwaterfishinguniversity I got the open 24, already catching fish with. The whole family loves it
@chiphill4856
2 ай бұрын
Because everybody knows wherever vb is
They are the best in the mid tier no question. I love my sportsman
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
2 жыл бұрын
Yep, they've done incredible in that market for sure. Hope you enjoy yours!!
@ReelinTension
2 жыл бұрын
@@saltwaterfishinguniversity I truly love it. I've had a bunch of boats over the years and this is my favorite.
Love seeing all those solar panels on their roof. 👍
@adamdemirs3466
Ай бұрын
Shut up ding dong
@imheretolearn770
Ай бұрын
Whats the lifespan on a solar panel and what happens to them when they expire?
Very cool, thank you for bringing us along. Is there a possibility that you could visit the Sea Hunt factory as well, there’s not that many videos about their boat building process, that would be awesome. Thanks again 👍
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
2 жыл бұрын
I'm sure hoping to do that Lester, as I've tried reaching out. Plus, I own a Sea Hunt as well!
@lestergarabito608
2 жыл бұрын
@@saltwaterfishinguniversity awesome just bought one myself just waiting on delivery, looking forward to it 😊
I’m sold. Getting one soon.
as a sr tech for large dealer of name brand center consoles, - referring to new boats only- the way they are wired and plumbed is almost criminal, it accounts for the majority of labor repairing or modding the boat. I can tell you about 95% of new boats coming in our yard require repair before sea trial. we’ve actually had to completely re plumb 2 boats in the $600,000 to 1.3 mill range. access is a whole different situation, its often poor to none. many 1 hour jobs take 4-8 due to access, poor assembly and miss rigging.
@chiphill4856
2 ай бұрын
This is true. I worked at sportsman and their wiring and rigging leaves a lot to be desired.
Love my sportsmen 2018 227 bay with 842 hrs not one issue
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
Thrilled to hear it David!
👍👍👍
I was considering your boat. Why not vacuum infuse?
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
They infuse some of their boats Tony. But the quality certainly seems to be there w both styles.
@chiphill4856
2 ай бұрын
Infusing is way too expensive for Sportsman.
@Thomas-gc4xb
Ай бұрын
Vacuum bagging a boat is very expensive and time consuming. Plus only hand layed up fiberglass boats are vacuum bagged for structural. Theses boats are made on the cheap with chopped glass to cut down on costs.
I'll take a 231 Heritage please!
0:57 Was that an NDA you signed or liability waiver?
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
An NDA, but it was mainly for the new Seakeeper Ride technology that just came out. Very cool tech.
@vicpinto1970
Жыл бұрын
@@saltwaterfishinguniversity I saw that it comes standard on 4 models for 2023. Very nice. A Sportsman will be my next boat once I save up a little bit more money.
As a fiberglass tech of 45 years I would recommend that no one ever purchase a boat made with chopped glass! (Think 1980’s Bayliners) Chopped glass is fine for making bathtubs and jacuzzis but not for boats! Oh and that putty they are using, steer clear! I’ve fixed so many boats that use that putty (All Robalo) it’s not as hard as a rock and when you put a boat in a sling or it’s trailered the weight of the boat cracks the gel under the bunks of the trailer. You may not see the cracks but they are there! Only buy hand lay up fiberglass boats.
Sr lam from Sri Lanka now warking in abudhabi ilaik warking your campani help to me iexpiriyans5 years my nem is chaminda
Cheapest materials used and they sell the boat at very high price
@Thomas-gc4xb
Ай бұрын
You ain’t lying. I’ve been a glass tech for 45 years and the materials they are using, especially that chopped glass is why I refuse to work on any boat that’s made from chopped glass.
Power boats chopper heaven ……. Poor quality
Boat prices out of control
@saltwaterfishinguniversity
Жыл бұрын
They have increased dramatically in the last few years for sure Stryanx.
@chiphill4856
2 ай бұрын
And sportsman is a mid/low tier boat.