RiverToysJas:
"I know old rigger takes no pride in the work he did at Hawaiian, but this boat has provided my family with years of good service".
RTJ,
at the time I was working there I took alot pride in my work, and built them to the best way I knew how. It was only after I went to work for Roger's that I learned better ways to do things.
It's tough to build them to a higher level when you are doing 6,7,8,9 boats a day.
I think it's great that there are so many of them out there. My dad had one for just over 20 years, when he died I sold it and now I wish I hadn't. It was a nice boat, still had the original seats, carpet and gel-coat.
Lot's of dumb things happened to the boats at the shop, but that was because of so many employees, shit is bound to happen. All the hulls were hand laminated, and there were 2 laminators to a boat, so at, let's say 6 boats a day, there 12 guys right there, throw in 2 gelcoaters working 2 shifts, 2 tapers, and one guy to grind the parts after they are pulled, whats that, 17 guys in the glass dept. plus 1 foreman. Over where I worked was the assemblers, there were 3 of us and a floater that we paid to help us out. Next were the riggers, 6-8 of them at any given time. And finally the detailers, where the seats, bow rails and windows were installed, usually about 10 of them. Throw in another foreman and his helper and there's another 23 or so. Almost forgot our touch up guy and his helper and the guys that waxed the molds.
50 or so guys in the 2 shops. Not big by the standerds of some companys, but pretty big for a So Cal boat shop. Shit just happens, no matter how hard you try to avoid the little **** up, it will always be there to bite you in the ass.
Remember these were entry level boats, just like Ultra and Comander were a few years later.