At Virginia Harvester, our mission is to provide high-quality aluminum boats designed specifically for the commercial crab, oyster, and aquaculture industries. We strive to ensure our vessels meet the rigorous demands of these sectors, offering durability and performance.
With a 42 deg entry at the bow to the wide and deep prop tunnel at the stern, go ahead set those pots in that skinny gut!
The Virginia Harvester is designed for watermen to afford.
Specifications
Hull : Welded 5052 Marine Aluminum
LOA: 24’
Beam: 92”
Draft; 6"
Dead rise: 6 deg.
Weight: 1700 (Dry, No Power)
Gunnel Height: 24”
Deck Space: 152 sq ft
Our Welded Marine Aluminum Hull is TOUGH and perfect for watermen who need durable aluminum boats for their operations. We offer a variety of options tailored for aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats, including center consoles, side consoles, tee tops, shade covers, pilot houses, walkaround pilot houses, davits, and pot haulers. We will build what you need.
The entire boat, whether it's designed for aquaculture boats or commercial fishing boats, is crafted using the most up-to-date 3D computer software. Every detail is meticulously thought out. Before we proceed to fabrication, we know how the durable aluminum boats will perform, what they weigh, and where their center of gravity is... everything!
Each piece of the hull for our durable aluminum boats is computer cut to a tolerance of .005. Each part has a unique number scribed on it that matches the part number in the master 3D model, ensuring precision for both aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats.
Once parts are cut, they are assembled into the frame of the hull for aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats, then welded together. Extra care is taken to ensure that the hull does not distort during the welding process, resulting in durable aluminum boats.
The motor mount station is fabricated from heavy 1/2" thick plate and is interconnected to the stringers. This design ensures that very little force goes to the transom plate, making it ideal for durable aluminum boats used in aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats.
The transom of these durable aluminum boats features two 1-1/2" threaded scupper bungs welded in. Additionally, the prop tunnel reduces skeg draft by 6", making them ideal for aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats.
Each hull bilge of our durable aluminum boats gets leak tested, and once passed, the weld seams are sealed with marine urethane. This crucial step prevents saltwater from damaging the welds, ensuring longevity for aquaculture boats and commercial fishing boats. Once cured, the entire bilge is coated with coal tar epoxy, which is some mean stuff... like 30-year mean!
High quality materials are the most important conponent of a boats construction. Our hulls are constructed of 5052 marine aluminum for its performance at a cost that is managable. There are aluminum alloys that are stiffer and slightly more corosion resistance but at 1.5x the cost. Stiffer is not always better. A stiffer alloy can be prone to cracks. More ductile (plastic) alloys hold there stregnth even after welding with less possibility of cracking.
A bilge is an extremely caustic environment. Concentrated levels of salt from sea water evaporation can corrode untreated alloys, even marine alloys. Each Virginia Harvester get a proper coating of coal tar epoxy applied to the bilge. Coal tar epoxy is relatively unheard of by small boat manufactures but is common place in the extreme conditions of the New England fishing industry.
Coal tar epoxy is a black surface protection polymer for use on extremely corrosive environment surfaces.
Coal tar epoxy is made by the conversion of polyamide epoxy with a pitch of refined coal tar. It is mostly used on metal substrates in offshore, petroleum and industrial environments. The tar additive is excellent at sealing out moisture and boosts flex and elongation of the concrete and tar. It holds up well in many marine environments including saltwater immersion