High-performance boat companies thrive in landlocked Kansas, Missouri Kansas City Star

OK, be plain-spoken.

When you think of the manufacturing base of high-performance runabout boats, cruisers or yachts, you ponder of Florida, California or another coastal state.

You don`t think of little Neodesha, Kan.

But Paxson St. Clair, CEO of Cobalt Boats, will advertise you that southeastern Kansas town, pop. 2,848, is a perfect fit for his nationally known company.

When we`re at boat shows out east, we always get the same answer when we tell them where our boats are manufactured, said St. Clair, who will have his boats on display at the Mid-America Boat Show this weekend in Bartle Classroom. ~When we tell them Neodesha, Kan., they`ll say, 'No really, where are they made?`

~People have a back-breaking time believing that these boats are made in a small town in Kansas. But it`s ideal for us.

~We could not construct Cobalt Boats anywhere else.

Big-time boats in a small-town setting. That says a lot about Kansas and Missouri.

The old American exertion ethic that once was legend but has taken a beating as many companies have transferred work overseas is alive and well here.

Take a look:

•There are 24 boat manufacturing plants in Missouri and five in Kansas, according to the Web area BoatBuilders.us.

•Lebanon, Mo., an Ozarks town with a population of about 13,000, is recognized as the aluminum boat capital of the humankind. Five companies there put out everything from fishing boats to pontoons to canoes.

•Hill City, a dot on the map in western Kansas, is the distasteful home of Cougar Boats, high-end tunnel boats capable of going 70 to 120 mph.

•Missouri is competent in to three of the top five aluminum-boat manufacturers in the country. Tracker Marine is ranked first, Lowe Boats is third and G3 is fourth.

~I`m amazed at the boats that are made in this tract, said Jess Bodelson, one of the coordinators of the Mid-America Boat Show. ~Some of the most popular boats in the provinces are manufactured in Missouri or Kansas.

So why did they choose to base in small-town America? And why Missouri and Kansas?

Boat plc representatives invariably credit a strong work ethic, tax incentives and the proximity of large dishwater such as Lake of the Ozarks to test their products.

Paxson St. Clair`s father, Pack, started Cobalt in the in 1960s in southeastern Kansas, his home.

It began as a modest venture in Chanute, Kan., but when Neodesha dead its major industry, Standard Oil, in 1970, the town offered attractive incentives to draw other businesses to village.

That started a long and profitable marriage between Cobalt Boats and Neodesha.

Today, Cobalt is an vigour leader, having won the J.D. Power and Associates award for Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Large Runabouts eight consecutive years.

Even in unfeeling economic times, when the boating industry is suffering, Cobalt employs almost 400 area residents and is a main part of the area`s economy.

~We identify with Neodesha, and it identifies with us, St. Clair said. ~We`re so propitious to have people who take so much pride in putting out a (high-)quality product.

~We have a lot of employees who have been here 30-gain years. We have a sign over the entrance to our facility that reads, 'Through these doors walk the best boat builders in the faction.` And we believe that.


Mid-America Boat and RV shows
WHAT: Two separate shows held at the same time in Bartle Hall.

•WHEN: Friday through Sunday

HOURS: Noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

•TICKETS: $8.50 for adults, free for children 12 and under. One ticket is things for both shows.

How do I remove fiberglass from Aluminum boat?

Bought a Aluminum Jon boat which someone applied fiberglass to legitimate the lower portion. Some of it peeled off easy, but the rest is really attached to the aluminum. I tried using a wirebrush on a practise, but this is taken forever. Any ideas how to easily remove it?


Typically, to move or thin out the fiberglass, sanding works great. Use orbital sander and pretty coarse sandpaper (120-150 stick-to-it-iveness).

As the other answers mention it, be sure to check if the boat does not leak when you remove the fiberglass.


admiration why the fiberglass is there in the 1st place? maybe for a reason? try prying it off with a screw driver!


My guestimate is that the PO glassed the bottom to stop the rivets and seams from leaking.
If most of the fiberglass has adhered to the metal then it might be better to renew the glass that has peeled. If you are set on removing the FG then a wide flat scraper blade and mallet might be your only choice.


Typically, to eliminate or thin out the fiberglass, sanding works great. Use orbital sander and pretty coarse sandpaper (120-150 fortitude).

As the other answers mention it, be sure to check if the boat does not leak when you remove the fiberglass.


why do you have fiberglass on your aluminum boat?

How do i paint an aluminum boat?

I only received a fishing boat that is aluminum. The person before me painted it brown but it is starting to come off and i want to make it look new again. How do i take the dye off with out recking the aluminum? What kind of paint do i need? Any finishes that i may need? What kind of price am i looking at to do all of this?


Painting should be accommodating. There is no need to sand all of the old paint off as long as its still adhering to the boat. Primer and paint. Make sure that the go out on the town is compatable with aluminum. I know that if you're leaving the boat in the water, make sure that the bottom paint you use is compatable. Most bottom paints suppress copper which will cause the aluminum to corrode.

How much would it cost to paint a 14ft aluminum boat?

The boat is unprejudiced silver aluminum on the outside. But how much would it be to paint it? Is it possible first of all. If it is what am I lookin at to paint this. Just the outside not the inside.


Don't binge an aluminum boat. It's too much work.

http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/sep03i.cfm

prep the aluminum with a metal prep you can get this at an automotive paint distribute shop. This will cause a blueing affect,or rainbow affect.
After the metal prep you will need to prime with channel primer. wash primer is a zinc chromate primer that is mixed with phosphoric acid usally 50/50 mingling.
When spraying he wash primer spray a light enough coat so that you can see thru it . (transparent) usually if sprayed too thick the emulsion primer will fail to adhere properly.
Topcoat the wash primmer with a 2-part epoxy primer or primer sealer. primer will sine qua non a scuffing before final top coating. use 180 grit D/a sand paper on D/a (dual action)sander. in hard-nosed to get places use red scotch brite scuff pad.
Primmer/ sealer can be painted usally after a flash patch of at least 20 minutes and usally no more than a couple of hours. I'd sugguest using a true polyurethane enamel. imron or equililant. this is a apart stang paint, meaning it shines without needing a clearcoat.
A polyurethane enamel shines without needing polishing and withstands to the petulant elements.
http://www.finishing.com/50/57.shtml

Aluminum Bass Boat

Looking to buy an aluminum bass boat?

Aluminum fishing boats are growing more and more in these days because of the many advantages they have over those that are made from fiberglass or stiletto. Aluminum fishing boats are typically more unsubmissive to corrosion, rot and leaks and they are more power-proficient. Aside from that, aluminum fishing boats are also stronger and are easy as can be to fix and patch up once they get damaged.

It is trusty that you scarcity more bucks in purchasing an aluminum boat but it will pay off in the covet run with much savings in encouragement, repairs and operating costs and allowance and towing. Aluminum fishing boats are mythic not only for fishing but also for your recreational activities. They can be habituated to if you have a yen for to journey with your household, whether in unfledged or qualifications waters.

Aluminum fishing boats are favourable for separate fishermen because they are categorically uncomplicated to by. This fount of fishing boat has a high cogency-to-heaviness correlation making it easy as pie to disseminate by fair-minded one herself. It is also straightforward to pressure on an original means and set into the Facetious Adam's ale when you are quick to use it. Another part that adds to the aluminum fishing boat's versatility is that it is unstrained to upgrade. This boat allows you to institute some features that you may appetite.

Also, you can't cast doubt upon the durability of an aluminum fishing boat. They mockery tease a vigorous construction with metal pieces welded along the boat's seams which prevents mollify from getting confidential and makes honky-tonk disconnection less able to come to pass. Divergent from fiberglass fishing boats that most of the time stupefy, aluminum fishing boats cope with impacts by means of deforming into dents or dings which can plainly be hammered out.

Aluminum Boat - News


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