Just received a copy of MarineMax Lifestyles magazine (spring 2018 edition) Naturally it is mostly
about boats that they sell but with the winter doldrums here in NJ it helps with the boredom to read
just about anything with boat pictures in it.
On page 46 there is a picture of a 1978 50' Ocean Alexander. In my opinion it is a very good looking
boat. The text claims that up to that point no yacht of that size had been made of fiberglass. This is
a good example of "fake news". Kind of makes one think that most articles etc are written by idiots
who really have no business being in their field.
I checked Yachtworld to see if there were any listed for sale and was surprised that not only were there
a few but the prices were substantial, more than an equivalent Hatteras. Am I missing something, these
boats were made in Taiwan and obviously have a following.
Walt
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Thread: First large fiberglass boats
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01-06-2018 02:16 PM #1Senior Member
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First large fiberglass boats
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
Fake news, stupid salesman.
SEVEN
1979 53' MY Hull #563
Antioch, California
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01-06-2018 05:32 PM #4Senior Member
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
I notice that most are on the west coast. That design (early models) is really nice...it was designed
by Ed Monk, Jr. It really baffles me that a boat that has small engines, in this case Ford Leamans
would cost so much, especially since they were relatively cheap when new. I can understand it with
the Hatteras LRC's because they were probably built even better than the Hatteras MY's.
Walt
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
They ve been around for a while but I m always a little concerned about older Taiwan boats. Quality was never anywhere near hatteras. Leaky tanks, leaky decks, poor systems
Lately (last 15/20 years) quality has improved always I don't think the stainless is still as good
OA makes some nice large MYs these days, close if not over 100'Pascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
2007 Sandbarhopper 13
12' Westphal Cat boat
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
From what I see I think their high prices are due to the cost of their newer boats that people think are very good quality. On the West Coast OE has always sold for more than Hatts for whatever reason. Some brands just have people fooled, kind of like “J” boats in the Sailing world, not built real well but cost a fortune do to very clever and successful marketing. John
Mahalo V
1974 53 Motoryacht
Hull Number 406
San Diego, Ca. Ready 32 Nordic Tug, Brunswick Ga.
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
Well, the 50 Ocean Alexander is 13 years newer than my 50 Hatteras. Maybe that justifies the premium.
Jim Grove, Fanfare 1966 50MY Hull #22 (Delivered Jan. 7, 1966)
"LIFE IS JUST ONE DAMNED THING AFTER ANOTHER." Frank Ward O'Malley, Journalist, Playwright 1875-1932
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
Walt, those Ford Lehmans (120 & 135 hp) were great engines. They would have been my first choice for my 48' Series I. Ten or fifteen years ago, the lore was that only one was known to have worn out and that was in commercial use on a ferry at 20,000 hours. That said, many of the Lehmans were bolted up to problematic Velvet Drives and they had some issues with marinization hardware, but the latter were cheap and DIY repairs.
Bobk
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01-07-2018 11:52 AM #10Senior Member
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Re: First large fiberglass boats
Bob, I'm familiar with the Ford Lehmans, they had a large facility on Elizabeth Ave, in Linden, NJ years
ago. Everything I ever heard about them was good but my point was that they were significantly cheaper
than any engines that Hatteras used and yet many years later they seem to be gold.
Walt