Has anyone built a Pilot House for a BOAT ???

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I got this idea of installing a pilot house on a center console boat i have. I already built the frame, but haven't been able to finish the sheet metal. i was thinking of using 1/8" aluminum plate. all around the front and sides. Any comments or ideas will be appreciated. thanksMillermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:go to www.classicmako.com those guys are the boat building gurus. It has been done a few times over thereIf you cannot convince them, confuse them.         Harry S Truman
Reply:There is a kit dealer down south of me that sells fiberglass models.  http://pacificpilothouse.com/ You are moving the helm forward quite a bit, huh?City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:no, that's not where it's going, i had just put it up there cause i was cleaning the yard.... it will go right where the console is, have to get it off too...Millermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:almost forgot, i had checked them out already, Pacific pilot house, but they are just way to expensive for my budget, i believe the cheapest one they got sells for about 7 grands.Millermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:I have built pilot houses before.They where wood for wood boats tho.Never did anything in aluminum.I would use 18 to 20 gauge,unless you plan to mount things to it.Then I would plate behind those areas with 1/8th.
Reply:You've built the framework... The boat is fiberglass...why not use fiberglass sheeting (like on tractor trailer trailers) to cover the framework,add a lexan window all around and you're done.
Reply:Another option would be to go to a local sailmaker or someone who makes dodgers for sailboats and see what he can do for you in canvas.  Tim
Reply:definitely a very creative and good idea ..... i personally like it ..... keeping in view of the budget the material is a little expensive probably the costs seems to be high but no matter .... work it  out .... steel bar steel supplier
Reply:What alloy aluminum are you using, 5xxx or 6xxx, I shouldn't wonder?  I know from speaking with Ed @ Pacific, that a lot of the expense in their product goes directly to windows, something to the tune of $2,000.00 for an average house. They use Diamond Sea Glaze widows exclusively for reliability. http://www.diamondseaglaze.com/City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:The glass windows right now is the least of my worries, i have one of my cousins, he works for a glass shop, i gave him the cut out sample of the windows, he can make them for about 200 bucks, all 4 windows. i still got to figure out a way to install them later on, cause it's just the glass, by the way, it's tempered. but no frame included.....Millermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:I just use flat auto safety glass in 3/8 or 1/4.When I build a bout for my self I either use bolt in windows from wrecked RVs or find a van or commercial truck to take the windows from.There are instructions on cutting your own windows on line.Just google cutting windows or chopping windows.
Reply:you can us 1/8" 5052, sheet. skip weld it to the frame. use rubber window  gaskets with laminated safety glass. use at least a 3" radius on the corners (6"circle)
Reply:thanks a lot, that's really helpful and kind of what i had in mind. i should be getting the sheet metal by the end of this week. Millermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:What's your plan for treating the aluminum?  Are you going to have it anodized or paint it, or?Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireWhat's your plan for treating the aluminum?  Are you going to have it anodized or paint it, or?
Reply:I plan on getting it powder coated. there is a shop close by,  where i get some of my client's gates powder coated, they are really good, the paint don't ship, and lasts a lot.... and they are not that expensive neither.Millermatic 25230A Spool GunDynasty 350 Trailblazer 302HF251D-1
Reply:im building mind, out of fiberglass, maybe before tuna starts ill finest it.. im to seeking pilot house before . i call pacific pilot house and there to expensive... here some picture  of my home made pilot house....i [IMG]http://http://s931.photobucket.com/albums/ad160/whaler220/
Reply:Here is a really basic one on a working boat.