Replacement Aluminim Boat Ribs?

[Pusher]

I can't find these for sale anywhere (Anywhere meaning Google ebay and forum searches). I don't want "C" channel or anything else attached to the existing ribs and I'd prefer actual ribs. I havr the bucking gun and solid rivets, just don't know why these things aren't sold. Thanks in advance.

 

[ondarvr]

I can't think of a reason why you would think they should be, they may be able to sell up to two of them a decade, not a real profit center when you look at the cost of making them.

 

[ondarvr]

There are other shapes of formed aluminum that may sort of work though.

 

[Pusher]

Ut should be as simple as chopping flat aluminum in 6' lengths then stamping them. The only costs would be materials oerhead and the depreciation on the stamp press. I'll probably just call my old boss at the airport and use his break but that method's harder to get consistency with and they'll be a "v" shape instead of a rounded edge.
I think that's a lot of the same shape aircraft use for the fuselage. The homebuilders could easily use them... new career anyone?

 

[fhhuber]

Similar issue with all-metal homebuilt aircraft.... and same answer.

You take wood and build a form, clamp in the aluminum sheet and then shape the metal around the form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUgXlYMLAkI

 

[Pusher]

That is some nice handwork in the video. I admire his patience but that's why homebuilders often die before projects are ever finished. The other issue with what he's doing is the PK screws will eventually widen the hole size so when it's time for new polycover the .032 will need to be re-drilled which means the screw line isn't parallel down the wing and the ribs lose strength. My prior boss does piper super cub projects and will beat on an oem rib until the owner cringes, then he'll smack a dakota cub rib and it won't budge. The weight's are pretty comparable too. It's amazing what some money and the right design will do.

I guess I'll keep searching for a seller. If anyone finds one I'd appreciate a post.

 

[Pusher]

I just ran acroas flow forming with a rivet gun on youtube, Fhhuber.

Looks like you could get some heavier gauge metals with that method. Another tool for the belt.

 

[GA_Boater]

I guess I'll keep searching for a seller. If anyone finds one I'd appreciate a post.

Some basic info is needed.

Ribs are not universal. What boat do you need ribs for? What's wrong with the ribs you have now?

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

I noticed the feller in the video FH posted has finally learned to keep his thumb way outta the way. :laugh:

I'm with GA since they aren't universal how bad are they destroyed that they need complete replacement?

Perhaps someone from this google search wouldn't rape you too bad to make up some stock that you could then shape into place

 

[Pusher]

https://youtu.be/YaL1Qri10p0
This might work as a good alternative and double up for tie down applications.



Hi GA_Boater. Its a 12" vhull but with a flat bottom. I'm thinking of converting the three seaters into an open deck. So I'll need reinforcements wher the seats used to add the rigidity. I'll likely need to do something where the floors meet the sides as well.

The PO that owned it before me also drilled floor boards into the ribs... :-( Lazy Rednecks

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Extra holes are just weight savings to increase capacity for fishing gear.

Understanding your end goal now - with access to a brake it would be easy for a guy to bend up some side boxes like these and gain room for storage or at least some flotation material.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hi GA_Boater. Its a 12" vhull but...ft, Sylvan and Smokercraft fastened the deck.

 

[Pusher]

TDF - might go that route. the floor's 4 ft wide so not a lot of room to work with. Thanks for sharing.

GA Boater, I'd post but I don't have photo bucket and don't feel like another social account.

The manufacturers were cutting corners and cut the hull strength down.They should have added tabs with tinnermans but I guess it works for them. Perfection is a skewed view of reality I guess.

 

[Pusher]

I'm with GA since they aren't universal how bad are they destroyed that they need complete replacement?

Perhaps someone from this google search[/URL] wouldn't rape you too bad to make up some stock that you could then shape into place

Sorry missed this post. The pex tubing might work but it looks like it's .016 so I might need a lot.

I'm not replacing the floor ribs even though they were drilled at the strength point. I was actually going to rivet new ones vertically up the sides.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Actually adding ribs going up the sides for structural support has been done many times.

 

[Pusher]

I purchased 20' of the pex plate. Hopefully the .016 thickness is enough. I'll let you know if it works out.

 

[Pusher]

Extra holes are just weight savings to increase capacity for fishing gear.

Understanding your end goal now - with access to a brake it would be easy for a guy to bend up some side boxes like these and gain room for storage or at least some flotation material.

The plate still hasn't shipped out. If that doesn't work I'll resell on ebay and do what you suggested but probably with a smaller profile like watermann has on his SN http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...8-sea-nymph-ss160-resto/page9?_=1466007768968

Truck Driving Fool, I was wondering if you know how that support is riveted to the boat. It's obviously a curved angle so bending with a break wouldn't work. I thought about tracing the outline of the boat to the aluminum sheet and then adding an inch to cut tabs in, then I would stop drill at the bend point and bend up with a pair of sheet metal pliers ever three inches or so. That wouldn't look as clean as what you posted though.

I called my Local Boat Shop and the owner said he wouldn't even know where to buy stringers since all the companies make theirs custom fit for their hulls and don't do resale.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Since these are not my pics just good examples I've found on the internet I can only guess at there being a piece of segmented angle (either preformed or made from plate) riveted to the hull for those to mount to. Similar to what is in the bow of this one.

 

[Pusher]

The verdict is in. Pex plate is definitely not thick enough. I bent it by hand trying to test its strength without much effort. I think I have it worked out now though. I'm going to place a 2x4 against the sides to brace like a bench would then rachet strap the sides together at the braces to locate how far forward and back the braces need to be to compensate for the missing middle bench. Hopefully that made sense.

 

[Pusher]

Hey guys, I have moved forward with this project. I took it out with the ned floor and benches. It leaked a gallon of water in less than an hour. I gleaned sone knowledge from the forums and was hoping for a touch more help.

As Jig' said elsewhere, you need to fix the leak before sealing it with a temporary solution. I have a bucking gun and will probably enlist help bracing the backside for this. I was seeing that you can gluvit afterwards, or 5200 it. Has anyone used the aluminum epoxy sticks that you melt on?