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Hi Kevin Very helpful, thank you. You have a gift for teaching, time will tell how much aptitude I have for learning! Bonus points on the welding support suggestion because I already have pipe and clamps. I was wondering what I was going to do with extra pipe, now I know. I can see that I'm making p...

welder,

I appreciate your observations, suggestions, and encouragement. Research on this site was an important factor convincing me that I could build my own boat.

-- Carl

Wow, great detective work! 

TIG class is in session, homework. Sometimes the puddle extends in front of my electrode and it's easy to place filler, other times it doesn't extend out front and I feel like I have to back up to place filler. I'm sure that's a clue that I should do something different, ideas?     -- Carl IMG_20240...

New action/comedy/romance movie stars an Australian tinny playing an important supporting role during a chase scene. Anyone know who built it?  

gandrfab,

I enjoyed your visit and the chance to talk shop. I want to come over and check your place out sometime.

-- Carl

gandrfab wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 5:25 am Where are you in Central Florida?
I'm in Edgewater a hop and a skip South of Daytona beach, for reference.
If you don't mind I'd like to check your project out.

 

Sounds good, PM'd you contact info.

Kevin, As always, I appreciate the context and perspective your comments provide. I can definitely see the usefulness of TIG for a couple areas already. My biggest fear is that my execution skills will not do your excellent advice justice. I need to spend time focused on learning. As you know I am e...

I can see that I need to improve my TIG welding skills so I signed up for a self paced aluminum class:

www.pacificarctigwelding.com/store

It will slow me down near term, but improve the quality of the outcome.
 
 

Got tied up a little this weekend, still working on aligning the first off center longitudinal. It's a real 3D problem solving exercise, but making progress. Worked on taming some of the twisty forces. Broke out the two foot crescent wrench to twist the longitudinal into submission. Modified a few v...

Keel longitudinal is tacked in place. I couldn't figure out how to tack it underneath, so I tacked it on the sides as far from the hull as possible. I figure it's going to come out way better than with no longitudinals in any event, so net improvement. Working on placing the other two using the hull...

The garage had a low of 68 and a high of 91 today. I figured out that I need to avoid the afternoon, when the setting sun shines directly on the garage doors, the radiant heat is brutal.

gandrfab, A fellow out of Texas makes the Zephyr Cove low-water pickup system and installs them on high-end flats skiffs. He has a good system and does nice work. I will do something similar for my boat. I got the "skinny water recipe" from the Texans who fish the lower Laguna Madre area. ...

gandrfab, That's a good setup. A hull mounted low water pickup is essential (and a jack plate, and a cupped prop, and a compression plate). I did one on my last boat. You have to plug all the factory water intakes and drill/tap a hole in the lower unit to feed water to the pump. I'll mount my pickup...

Kevin, Vent cover concept. I know, I know, I'm getting distracted...but you started it!    This is 2" pipe cut so the top is parallel with the bottom of the hull. I trimmed the leading end to match the hull plate thickness. There's going to be a keel bar on top of the hull plates, I could carry...

Kevin Great solution, very elegant! Cutting shapes with CAD is like cutting them with a table saw, but with a lot less shavings. What software do you use for your drawings? Part of me wonders if a vent cover is necessary at all. If the vent is open the suction in the tunnel is going to pull air thro...

Trimmed the vent roof off, will circle back once the hull seams are welded.  

Control knob and extension. Will trim to length later, I've got plenty to work with! I don't know if I like the shiny look, seems like it would reflect the sun back at you from any angle, will probably scuff it up for a matte finish.  

Kevin,

Your post is great the way it is. Don't worry, I'll ask questions when I'm not clear on something. I appreciate your clarification and conveying the "why" behind it as well. I'm going through the beveling/dressing thread you linked to now.

-- Carl

Kevin,

Haha, now that is a post my friend! I need another day to digest it properly. I got turned around in all the up to and down references, when I weld the longitudinals into the x-verse frames, where am I placing the hot tacks?

    -- Carl

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Kevin, I appreciate the explanation, that makes sense. I like your assembly suggestion and will circle back on the vent/cover welding. Next up is fine tuning the longitudinals and putting them in place. I'm not confident they are placed accurately enough enough to leave a 3/16" gap between pane...

welder wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:39 am I've had to wack a BUNCH of them again, I hope I didn't wack a good member, if I did I'm sorry.

 

I saw two attempts and they were both laughable. Good job playing defense, comrade!

Not sure the vent hole needs to be that big?   Thanks for supplying context for the vent in your reply. I forget other people don't know what I'm doing. Heck, sometimes even   I don't know what I'm doing!     The tunnel and vent are new to the aluminum incarnation of this hull. The dimensions of th...

Kevin, Educate me a little on this part: ​​​​​... a parent metal scantling scaled TIG weld would make this weld correctly. =0.95emNot more than the thickness as the root face and not more than 1/4 of face (throat/hypotenuse) in bulge or crown... I have 1/8" material. Are you saying make the dia...

This skiff is for shallow water fishing. The hull has a tunnel at the back to create a "hump" of water for the prop. Once everything is rigged right the skeg will be even with the bottom of the boat and the skiff will run in three inches of water. Forming that hump creates drag, though, wh...