Flatback Fireboat Rebuild

[gran398]

Craig, the old gal is looking great!

That idea of SB's on the tank mounts makes great sense if follow correctly. Bob,  are you saying six flat L brackets mounted to  the stringers, then starboard spacers on the tank top in the six tank indentions?

Craig, this may be something you're planning to add later, but thought would ask. Will there be drain holes in the base of the individual compartments, similar to what Rick did in PVC?

Edit: Think the correct term is limber holes.

[seabob4]

Craig, the old gal is looking great!

That idea of SB's on the tank mounts makes great sense if follow correctly. Bob,  are you saying six flat L brackets mounted to  the stringers, then starboard spacers on the tank top in the six tank indentions?

Craig, this may be something you're planning to add later, but thought would ask. Will there be drain holes in the base of the individual compartments, similar to what Rick did in PVC?

Scotty, the opposite.  Move the L-brackets as far inboard on the tank indentations, then the starboard spacers in between the verticals of the brackets and the stringers.  We did this both at Stamas and at PL...

[gran398]

Gotcha!

[RickK]

Craig, I see that the plates are bolted into the stringers. I looked back to see if you talked about or showed your plan but couldn't find anything.  How are they attached to the stringers?

[CLM65]

Craig, the old gal is looking great!

That idea of SB's on the tank mounts makes great sense if follow correctly. Bob,  are you saying six flat L brackets mounted to  the stringers, then starboard spacers on the tank top in the six tank indentions?

Craig, this may be something you're planning to add later, but thought would ask. Will there be drain holes in the base of the individual compartments, similar to what Rick did in PVC?

Scotty, the opposite.  Move the L-brackets as far inboard on the tank indentations, then the starboard spacers in between the verticals of the brackets and the stringers.  We did this both at Stamas and at PL...

Thanks Scotty!  The only addition I would do to SB's concept is to put some neoprene between the aluminum and the tank.

[CLM65]

Craig, I see that the plates are bolted into the stringers. I looked back to see if you talked about or showed your plan but couldn't find anything.  How are they attached to the stringers?

Rick,
Before I glassed the stringer caps into the boat, I glassed in some aluminum backing plates on the inside.  I also glassed in some washers and locknuts so that I could attach the outer plates without needing to get to the inside of the stringers.  This didn't work quite as well as I had planned, so I had to cut 1" holes at a few of the locations to access the nuts.  No problem, I'll just glass over them like I'll do with the foam holes.

[RickK]

ahHAA - good planning.  Did I miss that or were you holding back on that  

[CLM65]

ahHAA - good planning.  Did I miss that or were you holding back on that  

I actually gave it a brief mention back on page 11.  I'm trying not to keep any secrets - I want you guys to know what I'm doing so you can stop me before I do anything really stupid .

And to answer your other question - each compartment has holes for drainage, but they are kind of hard to see in the pics.  And the tank cradle has 4 holes - 2 on each end, that drain into the compartment below.

I managed to fill the stringers about 80% with foam today.  I need to finish closing in the front few feet of the main stringers before I can finish foaming.  The 80# foam kit is gonna be close....

[RickK]

ahHAA - good planning.  Did I miss that or were you holding back on that  

I actually gave it a brief mention back on page 11. I'm trying not to keep any secrets - I want you guys to know what I'm doing so you can stop me before I do anything really stupid .

You know I was just kidding    I must have missed that
The foaming is pretty tense on the first pour, isn't it.  Takes a couple to get the hang of it.

[gran398]

Good deal

Knew Rick was joshing regarding the "secrets" ....just having fun and  being a fellow member   As compared  to his other job.

Have studied your stringer layout/fab, compartments, etc. She's stout!  Looking forward to your plans for the hull side deck support.

Will you run box-style wings....or go with longitudinals/hangers on the hull sides?

[CLM65]

ahHAA - good planning.  Did I miss that or were you holding back on that  

I actually gave it a brief mention back on page 11. I'm trying not to keep any secrets - I want you guys to know what I'm doing so you can stop me before I do anything really stupid .

You know I was just kidding    I must have missed that
The foaming is pretty tense on the first pour, isn't it.  Takes a couple to get the hang of it.

Of course I didn't take you seriously Rick!  But I am serious - if you guys see me doing something absolutely wrong, let me know!

And yes, the pucker factor was up on the first couple pours.  But after that it was pretty easy.  There is actually more time than to mix it and pour it than I expected.

[CLM65]

Good deal

Knew Rick was joshing regarding the "secrets" ....just having fun and  being a fellow member   As compared  to his other job.

Have studied your stringer layout/fab, compartments, etc. She's stout!  Looking forward to your plans for the hull side deck support.

Will you run box-style wings....or go with longitudinals/hangers on the hull sides?

I am going to make some L-shaped longitudinal stringers, much like the original outer stringers, but not as wide.  They will be maybe 2 or 3 inches wide.  I was originally going to foam them as well, but now I think I may just make them extra stout and leave out the foam.

[gran398]

Good choice. Nothing like solid glass where it matters.

Not only will it give strong deck support...but will also stiffen the hull-sides.

A noticeable physical change between production boats and our custom builds is side strength and rigidity. Take your  fist and beat on production boats above the chines, then up the sides. Do the same to our rebuilds as produced lately. Huge difference, especially if cored.

[CLM65]

yeehaw!  Got the stringers all foamed in - had about 8 ounces of each part left (from a 10 gallon kit).  Feels good to have that behind me  

[RickK]

8)  one more check mark
10 gal, that's a bunch of foam  
Congrats - a milestone for sure.