the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

this is what that bow settled down to when I clamped a12" X1" hunk of aluminum to the back....

, then I used a shrinking technique from a guy called The Tinman, who is a big name for working with aluminum... and so far I got it to look like this:

ill work on it some more once it stops raining in a week or so...bob

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

WOW, ya must of pored some heat into her huh, I had some warp just not near that much. Weld a little and let her cool to the touch, then go to the other side and weld a little. Would like to know the shrinking tip you used, it sure seems to work, that is about what i ended up with and bolting the transom up took it right out.


You will get it and it will look good.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

this is what I read from The Tinman website...TM Technologies I have a 12" x 1" x 60" plate of aluminum that I used to back the sheet that I hammered... bob

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

I came home at 3:30 today and went to town with my welder on the aluminum tube i just got in.. by 9:30 i had the frame done except for the two small end verticles....i love the welder...this bracket will be a complete pod as well as the motor bracket...i am hoping it will over come the total weight of the outboard set back 24"

i will weld 1/4 " plate onthe sides and top of the "inner" frame to give me the strength to hold the motor...the rest wil just be sheathed in 1/8 aluminum....bob

 

[dozerII]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Looking good Bob, lots of structure there.

 

[barato2]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

lovin the work so far. thanks for posting pix of this process, as i suspect lots of us are interested in doing this. shoot and post lots of pix, por favor. OB on pod really is the most logical power setup in terms of maximizing interior space, and you get a swim step and flotation for motor to boot. i suspect as 4 stroke and DI 2 stroke OBs get more common and cheaper on used market, lots of I/O boats will go this way.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Nice work I like it, seems like it will be real sturdy!

 

[InMotion]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Looks great Bob! Nice to see the structure taking shape...

Keep up the good work!!

J.

 

[Sc25175]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

I have the same bow problem from from welding up my holes. Where on the tin man site did you find the shrinkage info?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

I have the same bow problem from from welding up my holes. Where on the tin man site did you find the shrinkage info?

I put a link to the info on post #103


I finnished up my frame today...added the last 4 pieces of the puzzle...it is super strong... Ill weld a 1/4" plate over the top of the middle frame and a 1/2 or 3/4" plate on the back side of the inner frame that will be my outboard mount plate... Ill will most likley add bracing on all inside corners of that inner frame.... and that will be my strength for holding the motor and the "wing pods" will just go along for the ride. I came out really square and to shape... I have more work flattening my transom panel on the boat..,...I know my last picture of it looks good but in the middle there is still some bow.....the straightening is slow and loud.... you need a good backing plate to hammer out the bends


bob

 

[barato2]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

i think you've hit on a metaphor for tinboat resto in general SLOW AND LOUD

looking forward to seeing more pix of the pod as it goes together. loving your work so far. are you using a TIG or a MIG with spool gun? can't see the welds closely enough to tell.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

i think you've hit on a metaphor for tinboat resto in general SLOW AND LOUD

looking forward to seeing more pix of the pod as it goes together. loving your work so far. are you using a TIG or a MIG with spool gun? can't see the welds closely enough to tell.

I am using a MIG with a spool gun....Tig might be prettier, but oh man would it take 10 times as long!!!....I can grind off the ugly welds if need be and reweld...on the nice new aluminum pipe....the mig welds soooo nice...it puddles perfect... ill post some clearer pictures next time bob

 

[barato2]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

no, i'm glad to hear it. i was thinking those weren't TIG'd but didn't want to say anything. i've been considering getting a spool gun for my MIG instead of dropping 1500 on a TIG unit, and am thrilled to hear that works so well on aluminum.

since you'll have the whole thing skinned, it doesn't sound like you'll even need to do any grinding except for fitting. really nice work.

it's political campaign season. you know what that means? lots of old politician signs for free, so i can now christen my shop the SLOW AND LOUD Boatworks

 

[Sc25175]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Sorry if I posted this twice. Are you using heat along with the tin man technique or are you doing it cold?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Sorry if I posted this twice. Are you using heat along with the tin man technique or are you doing it cold?

heat the high spots and hammer them down with support on the other side....it takes a lot of time....

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

finnished the frame by cutting two extra supports diagonally to help prevent the motor from trying to PRY this thing apart...a 1/4" thick plate across the moddle frames top will be added as well...should be plenty strong...and a 3/4" thick motor mount plate welded on the back side.... I cut some sheet today as well.....it will come together fast now... i need to buy the round "hatch -port " openings that has a screw on lid...so i can access the inside for mounting this thing...

bob

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

some new pictures.. I have the bracket 90 % finnished.. the welding went well...and i got great penetration on the thick plate to the frame...the bracket weighs 145 Lbs as shown:

I have three 8" deck plates to install still... as well as a little grinding and pin hole filling....then Ill measure and drill my holes for the bolts.. then ill set it aside as I try to finnish flattening out the wrapped transom sheet......grrrrr....my newbie rush, has caused me HOURS of grief!! I am really thinking of cutting it out and welding a new sheet in!( no way am I redoing all those rivets!!!) I may have 4-5 more hours of strightening!!!!!!!

but I am happy with the bracket....it should add some bouyancy going slow and when at rest and it should be clear when on plane!!

bob

 

[Sc25175]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

Looks great! Question, why tubular frame with plate, everybody else just welded a combo of half inch, quarter inch and three eighths together???

I am building one for my 25 footer so interested in different design concepts.

 

[barato2]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

why not? i like the idea of having overkill on the bracing that holds a very expensive and heavy weight out at the end of a 14" lever arm, esp when the boat is getting semi airborne. :applause:

 

[bob johnson]

Re: the starcraft islander rescue.....sorta.....got some work ahead!

well for one, the 1/8th " sheet was all free....the last two hurricanes made that possible.... well most, I bought a few sheets others had taken to the scrap yard... I had some 80-20 frameing( its 1.57" square) from old machinery at work...then I bought maybe 6 8ft length of 1.5" square aluminum tubing. that was only about $100 with shipping. If I had to buy all that material in 1/4" plate...I imagine it would cost me several hundred $$$$ like about $450 at least... and then I think it would weigh slieghtly more!! plus the thinner sheet and the tubing is all easy to cut...although I did cut the one piece of 1/4 " I have with my skill saw. it is the middle top piece right in front of my 3/4" thick motor mount plate.... that extra thickness welded down to the frame helps with the center mass strength I need for the motors weight effects bob