Aground

To the West of starting island if you keep doing the quests, you will eventually build a doc and once you do this you will be able to do quests on new haven the island to the west. Eventually you will have the resources to build the metal patrol boat and equip it with a gun. You will need at least 90 bullets to defeat the two pirate boats. To find the pirates you travel through the whirlpool that is in the water between these two islands. You will find the pirates if you travel west. Simply shoot until both ships are destroyed and return to new haven. Talk to the fisherman an he will take you in to the inn keeper and have him reward you.
This quest reward is pretty good I think as it save you money if you've spent a good bit of time on New Haven, which I mined the heck out of that area.

Sorry if this isn't enough detail for you, but if it isn't you likely haven't completed enough of the other quests. Just keep doing the quests and advancing things and it just comes. You have to defeat these pirates to unlock the island where you find the upgraded factory and get the new laser tools and bots and can start working with the high tech parts you find.