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Re: 24' DYI alloy remodel

Posted: Fri May 26, 2017 9:45 am
by Tfitz
The trips not over yet. This bay has good internet too!

Re: 24' DYI alloy remodel

Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 1:08 am
by Tfitz
Just got back from a great, first of the season Valdez trip. Only made a few improvements to the boat last winter and I like how they function and look. This shake down run went flawless, no boat problems. 2 guys and gear, food and drink for 4 days, 135 gals gas, 4 coolers of ice in the bow, and shrimp pot gear. Started the trip off at 2 MPG and gradually got to 2.6 MPG after burning off about 95 gals gas and going 225 miles.

Re: 24' DYI alloy remodel

Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 9:32 am
by kmorin
tfitz, looks like your work is holding up, that has to be a long pull down to Valdez to get the Sound of Prince William? Glad to see the trip was rewarding, Neat seats, sure are beefy, you don't look near heavy displacement enough to warrant that much structure? Behind the dodger/cabin bulkhead to keep out the wind but handy to the rod base when you see a rod tip dip?

Looks nice, good to see you out enjoying your own handiwork. Thinking of building something in the 24'-26' class? that way you could take the First Mate along too? Camping out in too close quarters isn't that popular with the Ladies, but you know that.

I've been back in the shop, for the first time in years, doing a Whittier side, PW Sound boat (32' w big twins) full cabin - the full meal deal. That shop work, when you're pushing 70 is more than I'd remembered! But slowly I'm finding a pace I can live with- (heavy on slow) - and still help my owner get his boat built.

Thanks for posting,
Kevin Morin
Kenai

Re: 24' DYI alloy remodel

Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 5:37 pm
by Tfitz
I forgot to show you a hatch i cut into the cabin floor to give me quick forward bilge access (and to store garbage). You didn't like my fish hold "flat hatch" design so I built this more conventional. I tend to build things favoring the off chance of encountering a Beluga size load, so the seat construction reflects that., that way it matches the overbuilt fishing rod / pot puller recpticals you thought was built to hold a Beluga. AND the insulated fish box I built, you thought looked strong enough to haul gravel! :gunner2:
No thought in my mind of building another aluminum mega project. I don't have enough time away from work to USE my boat, let alone start building another one. I need to retire first before I get crazy thoughts like that. (Next year I'm retiring)👍
I'm looking forward to seeing lots of photos of your boat project progress! You need to show us all how it's suppose to be done. I can't wait to "help" you with any constructive criticism I can find in your submitted detailed photo narrative.

Re: 24' DYI alloy remodel

Posted: Mon May 28, 2018 10:39 pm
by kmorin
Tfitz, now all my remarks were in the best sense of appreciation for overbuilding but there may not be many/any images of this build - not sure yet?

The reason is; the design is new, the bottom has not been done in welded metal anywhere- that I could find(?) and the interwebs are a great place to have your designs "appropriated" so to speak. My email is "k.morin@kmmail.net" (don't see yours in my email list?) so drop a contact and I'll send the images directly.

Skipper is a Slope Supervisor with his own shop and equipment in Kenai, whom I've known since the 60's, adventurous guy, and skilled welded metal builder in his own right. We talked a couple years ago, and he looked at sketches then resolved to use the design idea in the next few months; then. Life and Times have delayed his start up- as it does once an idea is settled and planned- so we just got started this last month.

Anyway drop a contact and I'll forward some images and text to help justify what I've done/doing/plan to do.

Had the idea a long time but its nice to see that white paper gets some lines then happen on the shop floor. I like that cycle quite a bit.

Hatch looks tighter not just a plate cover- and the false floor gives bilge access- good to have when you're decked as tightly as you are.

Just did a locally built custom job repair few weeks past. The bilge was sort of sealed by a welded in deck that was not air tested, water got under the deck and since there was no maintenance- at all!! this boat's bilge turned "galvanic" and pitting the forefoot on both sides of the keel AND one pit was through! 1/4" plate 13 yr old boat- 32' Hatco Marine (no longer building as I understand).

So old "lard stern" the Michelangelo Welder had to TIG the hole -wallowed out to about 1/2" bore- OVERhead, laying on the shop floor on creeper. Sheesh, I'm way too old to be doing this kind of thing. But while they had the boat apart they took foam out the bilges, bad wiring, wrong allot plumbing fittings out- a cell phone!!!! out of the bilge- who knows what was going through these guys' minds when they built the hull. She's a little homely at the sheer to, but then I'm kind of picky there.

Looking forward to your email.
Cheers,
Kevin