Welder

angus99 · May 2, 2017

I need to have some support posts made for my boat deck, as well as beef up my davit. Looking for a well-regarded welder or metal fabricator on the upper Chesapeake (ideally north of the Bay Bridge on the Eastern shore) with good stainless skills. Would appreciate any recommendations.

RT Firefly · May 2, 2017

Greetings,
Mr. 99. May be too far away but I've used this firm and their work is A-1...

First Flight Machine Shop

110 Kitty Hawk Ln
Elizabeth City, NC 27909-6756 | view map

(252) 335-2480

angus99 · May 2, 2017

RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. 99. May be too far away but I've used this firm and their work is A-1...

First Flight Machine Shop

110 Kitty Hawk Ln
Elizabeth City, NC 27909-6756 | view map

(252) 335-2480

Thanks much, RT. Probably a bit far for my purposes. I'm expecting to bleed green for this work, so I do hope to limit paying for someone's travel as well.

Roamer Blue · May 2, 2017

Shops that do commercial kitchen work making those stainless sinks/tables/counters may not be advertising as "welding shops" but have some marvelous experience with stainless.

May be a hidden resource?

HTH
RB

TJM · May 2, 2017

Just an issue that will arise. If welding on-site at the boat, understand that the weld bead will not be passivated (or electropolished) and will be subject to corrosion over time. Use 316L filler where ever you can. "L" stands for low carbon to reduce corrosion over time.

Does it need to be SS ? Are you adding structure on to an exiting member ?

angus99 · May 2, 2017

Thanks, Tom.

Ideally, I'd have the welder come to the boat and take measurements for the two new supports and have them fabricated in the shop. They'll be pretty simple; two poles with angled brackets that bolt to the floor and ceiling of the sun deck (the ceiling is the underside of the boat deck) in two locations that need extra support.

I'll probably remove the davit and have him truck it to his shop as well. The current owner of POCTA, who builds Defevers, did this sketch of the upgrades the davit will need to handle a 500-lb dinghy. (The base is anchored much more robustly than pictured.)

DavidM · May 2, 2017

Here are some possibilities:

Kato Marine in Annapolis can do custom davit, pole support fabrication.

Marine canvas suppliers usually know who can do stainless welding and are used as subcontractors on their projects. Talk to one near you.

The rigging department at Port Annapolis Marina can do what you want, but that will probably be the most expensive.

A canvas shop on your side of the bridge- Rock Hall Canvas Works maybe, would be your best bet on a lead to a SS welding shop.

And I have found that if you start with 316 electropolished SS tubing and grind and polish the welds, they look great and hold up well to corrosion. Not cheap to do right, though.

David

angus99 · May 2, 2017

djmarchand said:
Here are some possibilities:

Kato Marine in Annapolis can do custom davit, pole support fabrication.

Marine canvas suppliers usually know who can do stainless welding and are used as subcontractors on their projects. Talk to one near you.

The rigging department at Port Annapolis Marina can do what you want, but that will probably be the most expensive.

A canvas shop on your side of the bridge- Rock Hall Canvas Works maybe, would be your best bet on a lead to a SS welding shop.

And I have found that if you start with 316 electropolished SS tubing and grind and polish the welds, they look great and hold up well to corrosion. Not cheap to do right, though.

David

Thanks, Dave. I have some feelers out in the area as well. I'm bracing for the estimates. It may even be more cost-effective to find a good used davit sized and rated for the load.

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