New battery box and other mod's to the Sculpin

[goatram]

Time and weather will fix that. Does look good there thou. Where are that batteries going? Behind the doors? So you can not see them?

[Sculpin]

Time and weather will fix that. Does look good there thou. Where are that batteries going? Behind the doors? So you can not see them?

Yes they will fit lengthwise along the transom behind the doors. The new wash down pump, battery switches, distribution block, fire extinquisher, and something else I forgot will all go in the cabinet.

I'll keep the washdown hose on the side of the box with the new switch on the side as well just under the gunnel. Two new Scotty plugs (finally switching) will be on the sides as well.

Still trying to dream up a slick cleaning table for the top. I'll try the shelves out this year but may do something more exciting this winter. I think I will mount bait coolers on either side of the cabinet on the back rail.

[JETTYWOLF]

NIce.

[Sculpin]

I hope to have some for shots up soon with the layout etc. of the inside of the cabinet. Just about have all the components together. I have a buddy who does wiring etc. that will map it all out for me.

I bought some small rectangular sealed lights for lighting up the deck that I'm going to mount up by the rocket launchers. I also picked up some blue led's that I'm going to mount under the gunnels midway length wise of the cockpit area and one for the inside of the new cabinet.

[Sculpin]

Well I got the cabinet welded in, the cleats welded on, and made up some new downrigger mounts up a little higher and back a bit. I was tired of being jammed in the corner.



You can see the holes where the old bases were mounted in the corner.



Some of the new goodies going in over the weekend.

[goatram]

Looks Good John.

You Have some real Toys in the shop I want. Need a bigger shop thou to fit them in. Say a 50' by a 100'. I would have it filled to the rafters in a year.

[Sculpin]

Looks Good John.

You Have some real Toys in the shop I want. Need a bigger shop thou to fit them in. Say a 50' by a 100'. I would have it filled to the rafters in a year.

Our shop is 45' x 75' with a 45' x25' lean to off the side. We're on 1 acre. The paint shack in the back corner is 43' x 30'.

Here some of our equipment newer and very older. We mostly deal with mild steel products but dabble in stainless and aluminum. Probably 75% steel, 15% aluminum, and 10 percent stainless. We are just a one off job shop. Everything is custom. We don't manufacture a product. Shop is very old built in 1970 from a recylcled hydro substation. The shop is really messy right now as we are swamped at work.

Here is our heart and soul the 66 ton ironworker with punch, sheer, and notcher.



The old mechanical flywheel sheet metal sheer (my old man got it for next to nothing and it works great).



An old bandsaw that I got free from a customer that never used it. Works great. You can see the paint shack in the back ground.



One of 5 inverters we have set up on carts with bottles.



Thought you might enjoy a few shots of the equipment goatram

[Sculpin]

Well today was kind of a tinker day. Making nicknacks and mounting the lights etc.

I mounted a couple of waterproof halogens to light up the deck when getting ready in the morning or picking up crab and prawn traps late in the evening.





I made up a bunch of adapters for oar holders, halibut harpoon, gaff's etc. I will weld these onto the inside of the cockpit walls.



Got the riggers mounted too.



I bent the support braces for the swim grid and will mount them tomorrow.

[Sculpin]

Well I mounted the braces under the swim platform. I hope this helps with the cracking I was experiencing before.



I mounted the old scotty plug holders that were against the transom. The new style will fit right in. I put them right under the rigger mounts and will chop the cord to suit.



I mounted some of the oar adapters that I made up but don't like them. Not quite right. I think I will put them closer together and overlap the blades of the oars so I can mount another set for a boat hook.



All ready to roll for the wiring tomorrow night by a sparky buddy of mine who works at the local chandlery. I used 1/2 thick cutting board material and mounted them on aluminum spacer blocks that are drilled and tapped then welded to the inside of the transom. Should give him lots of space for the switch, dual bus bar, and charging relay. The one on the side of the cabinet is for the battery charger. The wash down pump will go in the empty space on the right side of the picture.



I'll post up some shots of the wiring when it's all done. Should be way better than the snakes nest I had before and all cozy in the new waterproof cabinet.

[Sculpin]

Next up after the wiring will be pulling the fuel tank. It's a 120 gal. tank with the lid made a couple of inches bigger all around and just fit in the hole of the deck and bolted all around with sealant between the lid and the deck.

I have never had it out and I just have to see what is under there. If the seal was leaking there could be quite a bit of water in that chamber. I want to see what the sleepers look like as well. I am assuming it is sitting on some kind of rubber on the hull ribs.



The design was ok I guess in that you can yank the tank right out of there with out cutting out the deck etc. but the sending unit for the fuel gauge is a bit of a pain in the azz.

[goatram]

Looks good John. The cracks all welded up? I think your box is the right size. Time will tell when the boards are filled with the fuse panels, and relays.

I did notice the big Bloodydecks sticker. :Finger:

[Sculpin]

Thanks Goatram. The only thing I can see right now is that I wish I made the lip bigger at the bottom of the cabinet under the doors. More of a splash board so to speak like maybe 2" higher. I haven't done any full on spray testing yet. The sides by the trough were a b*tch to get to seal because it was so hard to get in there. I had to borrow a big black s*x toy looking flexible nozzle for my one pound spool gun from my buddies at Redi-arc. It worked but I won't post any pics of those gutter welds.

We gouged out that ugly crack and got it good from the outside I just have to back gouge out the inside and I may put a doubler plate in like you suggested. We'll see.

As for the sticker. Yeah I like that site. Good bunch of fella's over there with great avatar's

[welder]

GREAT bunch of pictures y'all have posted.
John , I sure would like to play in your shop, you have some really cool equipment , The 60 ton Iron Worker is structural Steel PORN I hope the work keeps rolling in for ya.

I also like the BD site and yes the avatars are good over there. For you guys that have not been to www.bloodydecks.com ya might want to check them out , they call it like they see it and it's a great site for West Coast Fishing Info.& news

[Sculpin]

Well I made a good call on pulling the fuel tank. Yep there was water in that chamber probably about 15 gallons of it .










The good news is there was no smell of gas in there so the tank is sound. Ed did use Tef-gel or something similar as the bolts came out pretty good. It appears that the tank is just "hung" by the top flange as it appears to not touch any of the angles below. I don't know if this is a good thing or not.

If anyone wants to comment on this design please do so while I have it out. Should it be supported on the angles under the tank with some rubber etc?

Also what would be the best sealant to use when I put it back in (looks like clear silicone was used before). I am going to hand clean all the threaded holes with a chase die. I will use tef gel on all the bolts. Just want some direction on the type of sealant and application if possible.

Example two lines of it either side of the bolts or zig zag around the bolts or both etc?

[JETTYWOLF]

Sculpin,

That's amazing!

What a cool design. I'm really glad you photographed all that. Never seen such a setup, but at the same time I think that enough thought was put into that, so no wonder you smelled nothing. And it's all okay.

I was wondering about that fuel spout before, and why it looked like that. Now it's explained.

I just though, as far as sealant. I might look into a super heavy duty hatch type gasket material or foam like stuff to run around the edge and then drop back down and screw in. By the time it's smooshed, you may get a more durable seal around the edges(???) And it maybe really durable too.

Are you going to eventually non-skid paint the deck?? I can picture a really nice tread pattern taped out, and painted.
Your not all that far from that Far West Paint Company, Washington that's used on my deck. Really nice stuff, and super tough too.

Keep going, this is $100 worth of fun, without doing any work.

[Sculpin]

Well this is as good as it gets for now with the electrical. It's still 100 percent better than before. I may tidy it up a bit more this winter but for now it will get me out there.

You were right Goatram it filled up fast!



I had to cut my intake pipe for the washdown pump that used to come right up through the deck. I thought this would be a good safety device to install since the pipe has been cut down below water line now. I know it looks a little crooked. It was a real pain threading that by hand under the deck!

[Sculpin]

Well I was going to wait till she was all done but couldn't.

Since it's dark out now. Here is a shot of the LED's under the rails and in the cabinet.



Here is a shot with the LED's off and the Halogen's lighting up the deck. Might have to adjust them a bit but should work great for getting ready early morning or picking up traps in the evening.

[pjay9]

I have been following this rework with great interest! You are doing a grand job and the improvements are really going to enhance your time on the water. Are the LED's blue or it it the fault of the camera white balance system not ready the light correctly?

Your box up the back is such an improvement, nice work! A ball valve is always a good thing below the waterline. It will be good to hear about the first trip out. Thx for your postings! Capt PJ

PS on the small boat (70') with the CAT's we have an oil leak...I am not looking forward to tracing the source, the ER is so tight for this hulking body of mine! It never ends, BOAT MAINTENANCE!!!

[welder]

Heck of a job ans well done . To think this all started because you needed a new gas cap.

[Sculpin]

I have been following this rework with great interest! You are doing a grand job and the improvements are really going to enhance your time on the water. Are the LED's blue or it it the fault of the camera white balance system not ready the light correctly?

Your box up the back is such an improvement, nice work! A ball valve is always a good thing below the waterline. It will be good to hear about the first trip out. Thx for your postings! Capt PJ

PS on the small boat (70') with the CAT's we have an oil leak...I am not looking forward to tracing the source, the ER is so tight for this hulking body of mine! It never ends, BOAT MAINTENANCE!!!

Thanks pjay! With all the problems I was having at the end of the year last year it was time for a major overhaul. I'm building a new shelter for her this fall so I should get out more over the winter.

The LED's are blue nothing wrong with the camera settings. I kind of wish I went with red ones now but it's too late.

I hope to get out this weekend.

Good luck tracing that oil leak.

[Sculpin]

Heck of a job ans well done . To think this all started because you needed a new gas cap.

Oh there was alot more than that Les. It actually started because my VHF was turning off and on by itself (found that problem and fixed it). The fuel system, the cracking at the swim platform, the leaking hydraulic steering, and on and on ........

All of it my fault for lack of maintenance and proper storage of the boat. I'll post up pics of the new boat shelter I'm going to build for her out of pipe frames and old q decking I have laying around. I'll be able to keep her dry and snow free this winter and give me a place to work on her over the winter.

Cheers
John

[JETTYWOLF]

What did ya do with the fuel tank?

Sealing and all....

My boat stays in a shed and it makes all the difference, I believe. Since getting it, I don't believe I could ever store a boat outside ever again. It's just too handy.

Let me ask ya, "do you believe Vancouver Island has Bigfoots?"

Just saw a stupid TV show and they said your area is " a squatch haven".

[Sculpin]

What did ya do with the fuel tank?

Sealing and all....

My boat stays in a shed and it makes all the difference, I believe. Since getting it, I don't believe I could ever store a boat outside ever again. It's just too handy.

Let me ask ya, "do you believe Vancouver Island has Bigfoots?"

Just saw a stupid TV show and they said your area is " a squatch haven".

I cleaned out the chamber and put the tank back in today. I used Sikaflex in aluminum gray colour and put lots on. It appears to have made a great seal and I will trim off the excess tomorrow after it dries.

I can't wait to get her under cover so I can work on her in the rain (happens around here quite a bit).

I'm not a big BIG FOOT believer. I know enough loggers and hunters and I just think if they were out there more of them would be seen.

Cheers,
John

[JETTYWOLF]

10-4 on the "squatches".

I don't believe that stuff either. But I guess for some it makes good TV.

I should have just used that same sealant myself. I just put a nicely "water jet cut" piece of 3/16th's aluminum in a round shape to cover where Pacific uses those darn Armstrong deck plates, for the fuel sender and fuel line in the deck.

C/O Welder Bob, here on AAB. He was gracious enough to have a piece and cut it for me and send it to me.
I owe him some Beer(s).

Instead I used what I had on hand, which was BLACK 3M 5200 as a sealent. OH what a mess that was, when a drop touched my non-skid deck paint!!!!!! Acetone did nothing but spread it around and make a "stain".

Now, it gave me a excuse to paint at least the rear portion of my deck tomarrow with the gallon of Far West's non-skid paint I have.

Lesson learned: always use GRAY sealant to match the deck paint or aluminum.

Ya know even on Jay's Rock salt commercial boats, they seem to be using the 3M non-skid adhesive tape or sheets, like the Coastie boats have (safeboats). Cutting them out in a tread pattern. That could be a perfect idea for your boat in the long run, on the deck. And probably cost effective and easier.

[goatram]

Dave Denatured alcohol cleans that stuff up when it is still wet. Helps to make a nice smooth seal as well. Now You Know