RIVER BOATS - WHY BUY CUSTOM?

Over the past few years interest in welded aluminum jet boats has been increasing.

We frequently have people entering our shop curious as to the attraction surrounding the concept of buying a custom built boat versus a production model.

There are several factors contributing to the advantage of buying a customized boat. These include the strength of the construction, higher quality materials, the ability to choose your power package and the result of owning a completely personalized boat meeting your specific requirements.

First and foremost is the quality of the construction. Strength is important and much of the strength is determined by the weld. Welds need to be clean and solid to avoid the cracking due to hasty welds riddled with bubbles. In most custom shops the tendency is to take the time to be particular about the welds and the strength of the construction.

Much of the strength of the boat lies in the thickness of the aluminum. Custom builders, such as our shop, use thicker, higher quality aluminum. Thin aluminum does not withstand rough use - especially if the bottom is thin. Thin bottoms results in dents and ripples which have adverse effects on how your boat handles. Much like a car with tires that are out of alignment - a boat can pull. Boats are more fuel efficient, faster and easier to handle when they are free of bottom damage.

Thicker aluminum on the sides and bottom of your boat means that you can bounce off rocks or logs and it is not going to result in a tear or a puncture. This peace of mind goes a long way when you have a long way to go!

One of the most important reasons for buying a custom boat is the ability to get exactly what you need for the job it is to perform. If it is meant to be a hunting boat and needs to withstand rough use it can be built with a heavier bottom, with more interior space, and fitted with a motor and jet best suited for that application. If it is a family pleasure boat more time is spent accommodating items like seating arrangements, storage, looks, and a power package to suit. For the avid fisherman, who likes to frequent rivers such as the Fraser, he'll want something that is a light weight, easy to trailer, handles well and can carry multiple passengers.

Being able to customize your own boat is similar to being able to design your own home. You have the ability, prior to start of construction, to decide exactly what you want in your boat and how you want it to look. There isn't an experienced boater on the river who has not had some frustration regarding the limitations of their boat or boats they have operated. When you know what your own personal preferences are, customizing allows you to have control over much of the design of your boat and you can completely tailor it to your specific usage.

This can include a variety of adjustments such as side height, height of the windshield if you are a taller person, position of the seats if you require more leg room, position of the controls for more efficiency for the operator, amount of interior space and storage capacity you require, seat style, bottom degree and thickness, etc-In this way you can own a completely personalized boat.

Recently, we finished a boat for the Squamish Search and Rescue Society. They had very specific requirements for their boat. For example: It required a heavier light bar for their big lamps. The interior had to accommodate a stretcher. The sides needed to be lower for easy access to the water. It had to be designed and powered to handle well in tight situations. It needed to be able to navigate hard access areas. It needed to be fast.

So lets not forget the power and pump! Manufacturers are responding to the growing market of boaters, particularly river boaters. We have far more choice of power and pumps than we did 10 years ago, so why settle for only what is offered? Customizing means you get to decide how much power, speed and performance you want or need. If you are looking for inboard or outboard, light and fuel efficient or something that is meant to work hard under load you have that ability to match your choice of motor with your choice of pump into the design of your choosing!

If you are going to spend thousands of your hard earned dollars, it is reasonable to expect the most for your money and custom can provide that. The only thing a custom boat can't provide is immediate gratification. It requires waiting the time it takes to completion, however, you have the satisfaction of owning a jet boat that was built specifically for you to meet your unique requirements.

Linda and Harry Smith

SideWinder Marine