Flatback Fireboat Rebuild

[CLM65]

Excellent!  Thanks Bob .  The only additional thing I can think of putting up there is a small GPS/FF.  Once I get closer to rigging I'll ask your advice on how best to do that.  I imagine networking 2 displays on one antenna & transducer is pretty straight forward these days, but I have no experience doing that.  I'm not sure if both units need to be the same brand, or if everything is compatible with some sort of black box interface.

Tower under construction.

[seabob4]

I'll get back to you Craig...
Randy, do you have all your SS piano wire pull wires in place?  Love the addition of the chase tubes from the underside of the control box, and the curved tubes down below to bring the upstairs rigging into the console.  How about a pull wire aft to the overhang for a spreader, maybe anc lght location?  And what type of controls is Craig using?  If he's using standard mechanical, fishing the cables through the frame could be a bit of a beetch...

[CLM65]

I'll get back to you Craig...

No hurry, Bob.  Electronics will be a "later" item anyway.

As far as controls, I have no idea yet.  But I do need to consider budget, so probably mechanical cables.  What is the minimum bend radius for those?  The intersection of the upper rigging tubes and the legs do look like a tight bend.  Are you sure that won't create a problem?

And I like the idea of an ear or tab on the back, between the rod holders.  We had talked about that early on, but never reached a conclusion.  I will call you Monday night to discuss it.

Thanks Bob, definitely appreciate your advice and recommendations on this.  And yes, I do need to figure out what I want, what I need, and what I can afford.  I'm hoping that by spreading out the "major" purchases (console & tower now, a porta bracket at some point, engine later, etc.), it won't hurt so bad.  And I will keep my eyes open for deals along the way, much like with Randy's tower.

As far as the cables - I recall you recommending a certain type or brand of cables in the past.  Maybe a very flexible cable?  I'm not sure what the norm is, but I found some info online about the minimum bend radius for Teleflex cables being 5".  Do you know of anything better than that?

[seabob4]

OK guys, a little pre-planning for rigging.  Craig, you're gonna have 2 cables running up the starboard leg, 3 steering hoses running up port (starboard, port, and a compensating line).  So it would be best to run the electrical side of things up starboard.  Randy, try to keep the holes where the pipes meet as burr free as possible (you worked at YF, I don't have to tell you that!).  Try and keep any weld dross from wicking into the joints.

Craig, you're gonna need to figure out everything you want/need upstairs...

Just to let you know, Craig, they'll have to be the same brand if you want to use the upstairs one as a "repeater".  If it was just a CP, then you could use 2 different brands as they both do their charts independently, and you could use the same GPS antenna.   But transducers are brand specific, so a Garmin can't share a ducer with a Lowrance, etc.

[seabob4]

Here ya go Craig...



As far as cables:
What I recommend to everyone...Teleflex XTremes.  4" minimum bend radius.  Get them at boatersland...http://www.boatersland.com/enginesystem ... 3300x.html

[CLM65]

Looks like a nice setup there, Bob   I'll have to start looking at same-brand units, as I want to use the FF up top as well as below.

Thanks Bob!

[gran398]

Craig, quick derail, but have been meaning to ask you....back when you took it apart, how wet was the transom and stringers?

Tx!

[seabob4]

Craig, you could always run a stand-alone plain FF up top.  You don't need charts or coordinates up there...

[RickK]

I've become so accustom to a multi purpose display, i.e. chart-plotter, even if I'm using just the depth finder/Fish finder (df/ff) part of it.  Getting to and from the spot might need a compass setting or the chart. Once you're on the spot or close the df/ff is the key and then once the fishing is done and you have to head back in, in unfamiliar territory (or even familiar), having the chart is handy up there.  The charts give you depth and tides from different places on the chart, etc.
You don't need anything huge up there I wouldn't think. Maybe a 5"?
Capt Matt or someone else who use their tower a lot should really be piping in here.  I'm not sure what Matt has up in his.  When I saw the boat I was more checking out the work he did on that beauty then the electronics. Maybe he doesn't have any as he is a native to that area.  
I think Aaron and a few others went down there for a ride and can tell us.
My $.01

[CLM65]

Craig, quick derail, but have been meaning to ask you....back when you took it apart, how wet was the transom and stringers?

Tx!

Transom wasn't too bad at all.  Stringers on the other hand, as well as all of the flotation foam between the stringers, was saturated.  Do you recall how heavy it seemed when we loaded it on the trailer?  When I started removing the foam, I took it to the dump and got a before and after weight of my truck.  I think I was up to about 1200 lbs before I stopped keeping track.  Probably had another couple hundred pounds after that.

[CLM65]

Bob & Rick,

I definitely like the idea of having both a CP and FF up top.  We have quite a few spots that we use the CP to get close, and use the FF to zero in.  It would be nice to do it all from a good vantage point on calm days.  I'm thinking a 5" unit up top, and a 7" below.  I think a 7" is about the maximum size that will fit on the riser on my console.  Ideally both units would have the 3D imaging or whatever it is called that basically gives you a picture of what the bottom is like.

[gran398]

Craig, quick derail, but have been meaning to ask you....back when you took it apart, how wet was the transom and stringers?

Tx!

Transom wasn't too bad at all.  Stringers on the other hand, as well as all of the flotation foam between the stringers, was saturated.  Do you recall how heavy it seemed when we loaded it on the trailer?  When I started removing the foam, I took it to the dump and got a before and after weight of my truck.  I think I was up to about 1200 lbs before I stopped keeping track.  Probably had another couple hundred pounds after that.

Gotcha, and yes I remember loading her up.  We guessed around #3500. And that was hull only.

She's come a LONG way....can't wait to see more pics

[Aswaff400]

Bob & Rick,

I definitely like the idea of having both a CP and FF up top.  We have quite a few spots that we use the CP to get close, and use the FF to zero in.  It would be nice to do it all from a good vantage point on calm days.  I'm thinking a 5" unit up top, and a 7" below.  I think a 7" is about the maximum size that will fit on the riser on my console.  Ideally both units would have the 3D imaging or whatever it is called that basically gives you a picture of what the bottom is like.

craig, from what i measured, the absolute largest units that will fit on our consoles is a HDS9, or garmin 5208.and those are a REALLY tight squeeze but they'll fit... im leaning towards dual 7's on my console, and either my 4" ff or a new 5"ff/cp up top...

[dburr]

Craig LOTS (read all) of the work boats up here have water tight platforms (decks) and honking big scuppers of the oval shape of that the hawse hole trim piece you had.  The majority however, have no trim around the scuppers.  The scupper hole is molded right into either the transom or the hull side (sometimes both) flush with the deck and the look is incredibly clean.  There is no better / faster way to shed water...  When the need arises to plug them up for a deck load, must guys opt for little L brackets fastened to the inboard side on either end of the scupper hole that a UHMW "scupper board" is slid into. The fit is snug and most often there is an o-ring like seal between the boat side and the scupper board and the inboard side has a tab to grab onto.


Scotty is correct that if the holes in the swisscheese line up (dead batts, water coming in etc..) there is going to be a problem.. Over the years, the only big above deck scupper incidents that have caused a sinking that I have heard about are due to either intentional sabotage because or a gear war or alcohol induced stupidity, and a real stupid one that involved a deck load of mackerel combined with Alan's coffee brandy, a rotten penboard and some poor man's tabaccy....

Common thread there was lack of good judgement and seamanship, pay attention and don't eat Swiss cheese and you'll be fine   ...  Oval scuppers would look really cool!

[randy56100]

Craigs tower is complete. Aside from the floor being put on and the canvas strung up. hope you like it buddy. pictures do not do it justice.   cant wait to see it on the flatty!