EXPERT!!!

[GA_Boater]

This project was christened on 11/15/11; began early Jan 2010.

So this is a finished project? Or still in progress?

 

[jrttoday]

No Title

OK, thanks jbcurt00!! I'm totally guessing about the paint helping??? It just holds turns much better than I would have thought for the hull design. Of course, I have added substantially to the overall weight. Was even thinking earlier I'd get it weighed next week. I don't want to push it bc the motor IS 44 years old. By contrast, I am 57 and some of my wild hairs are turning grey. The boat/power combination extremely safe, but as with anything, respect it or else...
I ran my Skeeter on the skeg all the time, an 18'r. This hull is 15'4" w/a 5' beam. 4,000revs is fast and comfortable.Running light I can pop up at 4,400 in slack tide low wind.
This thing ain't perfect, but it's perfect for me. A lot of what I did I just did bc it made sense to me lol. (yeah, I'm seeing a psychiatrist about that!!! hahahhaaaaa)
I did use matt along the edges to the gunwales when I got her outside, before installing the upper deck. And let the real pain in the ars work begin!

Unless you've previously "tried" to fit old preformed fiberglass to something completely different and contrary (if you haven't already, pay attention to difference in the upper part of the hulls - particularly the curvature of the one the deck came off of) to what it "was", you have no idea! No idea of what futility means!! :lol: I'm laughing! this was such a nightmare... Cutting stuff up to be used again and using every scrap to keep from making new pieces from scratch, which may have been easier? As I've said, "nothing but time and no income - all outgo, this project and keeping ALL life support going!

 

[jrttoday]

that's a really good link! jbcurt00 thanks

 

[jrttoday]

So this is a finished project? Or still in progress?

HEY!!!! IT'S A BOAT!!!!!!!! ARE WE EVER FINISHED? lol
I've been fishing it for a few years, but then!! Right now have a problem with the ignition. Bout figured it out, just been raining and can't get back to it until I finish building a heavy duty trailer (1/4" angle etc) for a neighbor.
more pics asap, I'm having fun recalling the experience, thanks for your interest!!

 

[GA_Boater]

My reason for asking if she was in progress or finished was to determine if advice should be offered. It's too late.

 

[jrttoday]

I can understand that, thanks, and a lot of people offer solutions after the fact trying to point out how stupid you were!! hahhaaha I couldn't care less and I know that no one here has done that. And if they do, it isn't my problem but theirs. I find it so easy to be misunderstood online, no matter how hard I try to be clear. And boats are such complex creatures! Give advice (in my case), might can use it down the road? Even considering I've thought "I'll never do this again!".My crystal ball quit working years ago and I've not yet enjoyed anything I've ever had than this piece of boat! lol
And that's why the title "EXPERT", I am not one - the experience/solutions found here are invaluable.
I said in a thread the other day, "part of this country's problem is that we no longer build ANYTHING"

 

[jbcurt00]

Built unsafe is worse then not built at all just as used in an unsafe manner is worse then not used at all

 

[jrttoday]

what mountain top have you been sitting on? lol I'm fond of "if there's no time to do it right the first time, why is there always time the second time"

 

[jbcurt00]

...I'm fond of "if there's no time to do it right the first time, why is there always time the second time"

Then you dont follow your own advice

 

[jrttoday]

way too late on that one!

 

[jrttoday]

No Title

hit a submerged log in 40' of water! Tore off port side of hydrofoil; which I never liked the size of and bolting from the top. Made this one from an industrial fan housing and bolted from the bottom up.
now I need figure out how to downsize some pic files to upload oh well.....:sleeping:

 

[jigngrub]

Get a FREE Photobucket account and the pics will be downsized for you when you upload to Photobucket, then just post from the bucket to this forum and you get nice full sized pics like this:



This is what I meant about tabbing your deck to your hull, it makes your deck a diaphragm that holds your whole boat together (just like the diaphragm in the center of your body). This is a structural application and needs to be done to keep your boat from pulling itself apart over time. If you didn't tab your deck to your hull, you should really consider going back and removing some of the paint on your deck and hull and putting the tabs in... especially since you're running that oversized motor and overpowering your boat.

 

[jrttoday]

I had one cup of coffee around 7pm yesterday, haven't slept since!!! lol and thanks for the help, I shoulda taken PC's for dummies! try that 2morrow.
1st 2nd and 3rd I did, will do the tabs soon - makes structural sense!
and figured out how to compress files in MSO Picture Manager, will check on PhotoBucket

 

[jrttoday]

going to find out who spiked the coffee!! Cannot sleep again:mad-new: anyway----
How they determine max horsepower for boats Best Answer: the USCG determines the max HP rating for a boat as follows:

1. Multiply length x width at the transom.

2 If Length x Width is.........then max hp is
.........0 - 35.......................3
.......36-39........................5
.......40-42........................7....
.......43-45........................10
......46-52.........................15

3. Except flat-bottomed hard-chined boats use the next lower rating.

4. If length x width is greater than 52, use this formula:
.......Length x Width x 2 minus 90, rounded up to the next multiple of 5.
............Example: my boat is 15.5 feet by 5.5 feet. 15.5 x 5.5 = 82.25 x 2 = 170.5 - 90 = 80.5
...................the rating plate reads "85 hp".

5. Except if the transom is less than 20" high *or* the motor is tiller steered, in which case:
..........Length x Width x 0.8 minus 25, rounded up to the next multiple of 5.

A boat builder doesn't need USCG approval to rate a boat at or below the USCG formula.

A boat builder can use a higher rating only if the proposed boat/motor combination passes handling tests designed by the USCG.

Source(s):United States Code Title 46, Chapter II.
CFR Title 33, Subchapter S, Chapter 1.

****my boat is 15' 4" by 4' 10", structurally sound/strong, and handles really good under all sea conditions - been in 3&4 footers whitecapping!! (Tensaw River and the mouth of Mobile Bay) Their example is close enough; just because I have good power doesn't mean WOT everywhere or anywhere. The Marine Police (two officers) inspected my boat thoroughly and said it should be fine. I imagine down here they've seen it all

 

[jrttoday]

Some picture resolution lost after compressing files, who cares. Just saying, only pics taken from today forward will have full resolution. Anyway, first up this "deck tab" issue - on a good day, I only have two brain cells functioning!!! It wasn't a priority with either brain cell; I knew I had done the best I could at the time, so I tend to forget what I did in the past. Happiness is a clear conscious...
After several coats of of Killlz, you can still see I used several layers of matt. The hump in the corner represents an overstuffing of chopped matt; not pretty? PFFFFFFFFFFT!!!! fish don't care, think I used cloth over floor? been awhile... Though the tabs are not the recommended 6", they are 3" to 4" the length of the boat.


Few years later, added freshwater livewell fill, recirculating pump, and upgraded bilge pump from 800 to 1,200gpm. No leaks, but I live/fish in the rainiest area of the United States. Seldom rains all day, but when it does you'd better have your scuba gear handy!!
Decided on galvanized steel over pvc because I often haul a two man/woman lol tent, one or two sleeping bags, and other necessary supplies (gal of deet included!). I'll worry about replacing it down the road and not up the creek!!!


Vertical pipe is a bracket I fashioned to support plumbing from underneath flush to transom. Though unlikely, the potential for hitting a submerged stump or log does exist considering where and how I fish.
yeah....... have some cleaning to do

 

[jrttoday]

lost resolution, oh well... At this point was still under construction.... and I had to use it to figure out what ELSE!!!:laugh:


Port side sweet, starboard presented challenges in making it flat as to reinforcements around the console. It still came out OK, but noticeable distortion along the rubrail.

 

[jrttoday]

In '72, Johnson did not offer power t/t; used after market CMC unit worked fine for awhile. Pump gave out and replaced with a Volvo/Penta I/O pump mounted internally.


That's why the original owner of said outboard had the pos monster SeaRay hydrofoil on it. Motor was designed well and balanced perfectly, such that tilting this 310lb beast up in the water or at the ramp was easy. But underway..... hey, I rarely have to nudge the trim when running or changing speeds - she'll jump on plane from idle w/o trimming, hydrofoil or not. But I like the hydrofoil I made, combined with t/t, I can get up quick in shallow water.

Returning from one of the first times out, took my buddy and his twelve yo daughter - she had a blast, casts better than he does!! lol We had ample room and extremely stable w/everyone standing and moving around - it was about like fishing off a raft even with only five foot of beam. I need to get this tub weighed soon; 24v 70lb thrust MK with group 27 batteries/ 1,000 amp group 24 cranking/ 17gals glass resin minus spillage and waste added to an already built top deck and hull, plus lumber, etc etc. And I always have my 41 gallon livewell half full. No wonder she sits down in a hurry when I come off the throttle!!
I can still get in and out of a foot of water with no trouble, but less than 8" and I'm gonna have to get out and push!

 

[jigngrub]

That galvanized pipe could come in handy for fending off pirates and rabid Nutria!:llama:

 

[jrttoday]

Top deck came with two livewells, used one and made the other for storage. The good thing about using your own design and doing your own work is the ability to change your mind and argue with yourself!!! At 14x24 inches and no fill or recirculating pumps, it was inadequate.


Back to the Etch-A-Sketch! Combined the two and made this 41 gallon insulated w/2" styrofoam (lids insulated, too. Insulation underneath by floor/floatation foam). At 3:00pm in direct sunlight and 85* in the shade, I put 7 two liter bottles frozen solid in and closed the lids. Next day, same time, only an inch of ice had melted from each bottle top to bottom.

Top center of pic, took forward and aft seat pedestal foundations glassed together for trolling motor batteries and homemade leaning post. Phooey on a bow casting deck, low design enables me to get up in the woods, keeps a low center of gravity for balance when fighting fish and can stand anywhere on the boat if I want to. - she doesn't tip.
The FIRST TIME OUT with new livewell. I never keep what I won't eat immediately, I don't freeze fish. And big Bass are not kept very often. They are the breeding fish and I take a lot into consideration before removing one. I have never Bass fished during their spawn. That well is 19" wide and that particular bottle of ice was used to help water temp

 

[hadaveha]

It's amazing how much better a boat looks with a few fish onboard