normal mig welder wont work on ally, not sure how hard it would be but ya probably better off buying a centre console. Unless of course your getting it cheap or something like that.

I did the marine ply glass thing and it turned out nice. Lurcha..As long as your mig welder is set up for ally you can weld ally with it

a mig welder works fine for aluminium welding, just gotta make sure you use mig wire

for ally welding

C/C David....there are some good looking ones around.  By the time you buy all the necessary components it will be an expensive project.......... try bias online ?  nev  

maybe easyier to buy one a normal mig runs like a pig for ally welding unless you buy a push pull gun for it. best way to go is a the tig welder i recon for that type of work alot silkier welds another thing if you decide to build one dont forget to ask for 5083 marine grade ally because metal suplyers will give you any thing. cheers

my grandad made a plan of buying a 18 ft dinghy which was stronger than normal and welding a cuddy cab on it, overall the job compare to buying a boat was cheap, we then welded on a full transom with spare motor and step and side rails and everyting else incorparated in a normal boat.

all the welding was done by by a friend who used to be a boat builder with a push pull mig welder,  the welding is done brilliantly and better than some boats you can buy.

it should be easy to come up with a suitable design

Locate your console right down towards the stern,it might be a bit wetter but the ride is a hell of a lot softer.That way you can fit a front deck/casting platform with room to spare.
At any of the better boat shops you will find console units already made up in either glass or ali in some cases ready to go

I was down at Wakemaker Marine today, looking at getting a boat built.....and noticed a tinny in there with a forward/centre console. Shoulda taken a pic but forgot.

Maybe give 'em a call.  0424 700 560  They're in Bibra Lake.

ease of access around either side. I have full shoulder width around and dont have to shimmy like a crab.

I used existing cables so i put the console where they would reach. Basically to save money.

Made the height of the shelf high enough to get under without having to be a contortionist.

and made the dash big enough to fit all the guages and deep enough to fit electronics behind the screen and out of the weather.

Thats what suited me however and the good thing is you can make it to suit your own requirements

does anyone know how much console costs?

The glass ones cost $350-$550, and up, depending on where you buy them. Don't think the ali ones will be any cheaper.