6 Boats and 1 trailer

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About a week ago I got a call about a welding job on a boat trailer. The person want to know how much it would cost to fab a rack on a trailer to hall 6 boats.     I ask what size is the trailer and what kind of boats?He said the trailer was 7' x 16' and the boats were 14' sail boats.     Now I am trying to see this in my mind  (no luck) so we are talking and tells me he can bring the trailer and 2 boats to me to look at and give him a idea on the cost.     OK, bring them down (I got to see this) so I give him my address and he told me he would bring them down the next day.      9:00AM the next day he is here with the trailer and boats. I meet him and introduce myself and he hands me some print out drawing from a computer. I look at them, the trailer and boats and tell him they won't work but I may have a idea that might work and did a quick drawing.      Now we are talking and I am making a list of  materials and trying to come up with a good labor rate when  he tells me it is for a youth camp and the trailer and boats are all donated for the kids.        Well I am a sucker for helping the kids, so I tell him I will do the build for free if he can get the materials I need to do it.        So here is some pictures of the start of putting 6 sail boats on one trailer.There will be 4 boats stacked on a rack in the middle and one on each side. The last picture is the boat that will go on the sides.         I will post more pictures as the build goes on. Attached Imageswww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:I tagged this thread to see what you come up with. Thoes kids will getya every time (lol ) Please do keep us up to speed. Good luckGod speed / happy welding Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2
Reply:Originally Posted by mechanic416       Well I am a sucker for helping the kids, so I tell him I will do the build for free if he can get the materials I need to do it.
Reply:I'm all for helping out kids and good organizations ( read my 4-H thread), however in my area there are a ton of summer camps for kids the parents pay big money to send their kids to. The people who run these camps also tend to be some of the cheapest SOB's I've come across when it comes to work. They put on a huge song and dance that it's all about the "kids" and expect you to cut them a huge break, yet if you look at what it costs to send your kid there for a week, it's more than I make on average for the whole week.Maybe I'm just a cynic because of the camps near me, but I'd at least do a bit of research before you just "give away" your labor. At a minimum if it is a legit camp for a nonprofit organization, you should be able to get a letter stating your normal labor price as a "donation" that you can use as a tax write off..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I'm with DSW on the whole "its for a youth camp" thing.   The only camps that I have seen that are really non profit based on what it costs to send the kids are Scouting camps...   I have yet to see a cheap YMCA, church, or private week long camp under a few hundred bucks except for Scout camps...   I would say charge him but offer to provide a welding workshop for the campers.  As was mentioned recently about scout welding merit badge...   Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I'm with DSW.  I had a boat that I bought to flip, got the call (non profit, for the kids, blah, blah, blah).  The story sounded like we would pick these kids up in some crap hole, show them how great it was here, then ship them back to child slavery/labour or painful early death.  The story got me hook line and sinker.  The guy asks if I can bring drop the boat off, sure I can, I got gas money and six extra hours.  I don't know if I was too shy or in shock to just drive away once I got there, but I do know I still kick myself when I think about it.  I don't think they make trailer hitches for the cars that were there and if they did I'm not sure anyone would know what it was or how to use it.Tom
Reply:Had some time today and put in the rest of the center rollers and made the brackets for the two boats that will be on the sides. Attached Imageswww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:I applaud your sprit of giving.
Reply:Got the walk ways and gussets welded in today. A few hours tomorrow and it should be done. Attached Imageswww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:Looks like it is coming along fine. Maybe add some gussets to the frame so it won't rack front to back with the weight of the boats on there and wind load when on the road. Do you have any plans on adding somewhere to stow the masts, booms, rudders, sails and centerboards? One thing for sure about this boat trailer is, it won't be getting backed into the lake for launching boats. The tow vehicle would be completely submerged before the top boat got wet.
Reply:Man, I miss my Laser.  I should never have sold it--what was I thinking?Tim
Reply:It has come to an end, its done. I am glad to it was 97 degresse yeasterday and 102 today.They are picking it up tomorrow to wire brush the welds and paint it before the pictures of it loaded for the boating mag. Attached Imageswww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:Here are the last few pictures I have.I will post some pictures with it loaded at the end of the month. Attached Imageswww.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's