Aluminum ... A-dory?

I went through the same analysis as you with my 18 Hewescraft when I moved up to an overnight boat. I think the Dory design is best in Fiberglass. I did get quotes on a Silver Streak Phantom 21 at the time. Right now the best value is a used 26 Venture out of WA. The Vancouver C-Dory dealer has a 23 Venture and there is a 23 owner on Lower Mainland but I haven't seen them come up for sale used.

Most Vancouver Island builders will build a boat based on a Cope or similar aluminum welding-designed boat. Doing a custom one-off boat would be cost-prohibitive and difficult to resell. There is a custom 28 aluminum pilot house for sale in Campbell river for 80 or 90k Canadian and it isn't selling (home weld job too)
 
I'm going to be stopping in to the seller in north van this friday hopefully and take a more solid look at the 23 venture. Been waiting for them to bring in a 25/26 but with current political stuff who knows if/when that'll happen.

I spoke with Cope (Bruce) via email, he's stopped doing custom work however a 10 year associate of his, Amanda, is doing custom work but as yet to hear back from her office. https://devalkdesign.com/

And yes, custom work may be more than I want to play with but I'm curious enough to pursue it, see where it leads. An associate of mine does aluminum fabrication, used to work at Port Boat House till he started on his own. Still does work for Port Boat House and other dealerships so that may be an option.

Last time I was at the North Van dealership he didn't seem all too keen on outfitting a hull with twins. I may end up getting the boat without any rigging and do it myself. Neighbor is a certified marine mechanic and holds his marine electrical etc. I'm an electrician by trade so should be able to sort it out. Although he's in Northern BC (South Bank) my uncle is a chief engineer and outfitted a early 2000's 22 dory this summer past with twin 50 tohatsu's so I've some experiences to draw from there. He found the boat in Yellowknife of all places 😳
 
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