May or may not be of interest...

[Andy249]

The hull is fabricated up side down, the seams are welded both sides with a MIG, in an ideal world it would be TIGged on the outside but I consider distortion and speed the main drawbacks with this method. As this is the first of hopefulyl many, I have no doubt the processes will change as the project evolves and I become more familiar with the ins and outs of the vessels. Just goes to show, no matter how many boats you have worked on in the past, you feel as though you are starting green when you mess around with a new design! I'll post more pics as it progresses.

Thats what i thought also.

[fun4now]

welder look

it looks like a thermal arc only blue

[Pacwa]

Hi Andy,

She’s a beauty! Your jig produces very fair lines.

After fit-up, do you weld the inside seams, back chip the outside and then weld the outside seams?

Do you mig both seams, or mig the inside and then tig the outside? I’ve seen it done both ways.

Please send more photos as you finish the boat.

Thanks, -Pacwa

MM251 & Spoolmatic
Invertec V205-T

Scott V I probably would've if it werent for the handle on it.

[Andy249]

Ello People...

I'm not Ask Andy!! He he, would be nice if Miller did spot me a BWE though, I'm never to proud to turn down a freebie! Although if they had one with an Aussie flag on it I would have one in a flash!

Thanks for the comments guys, nice to be appreciated by your peers no matter what you are doing, hence the reason why I try and help out with advice as much as I can. When I first started welding I never even dreamed of the number of specialist areas in various industries that you can be involved in, surely if someone would like an occupation with great variety and a wide ranging scope than welding would surely be at the top of the list!

[fun4now]

rong Andy LOL

i think you got youre Andy's mixed up LOL ASK ANDY has a miller BWE as to weather it was a comp. 1 can only speculate (unless he feels the need to inform the masses LOL )

[whatter]

Speedglass

Hey Andy,

Nice Boat! I think my skill level would have to increase a little before I took on a project like that. By the way, I noticed the Speedglass Helmet in your picture. You would think a high dollar outfit like Miller would comp you a Big Window Elite. Just teasing, I use a Speedglass myself. At the time I bought it Miller hadn't quite caught up to Hornell yet. I think they have now though.

W. Hatter

[Scott V]

It's all about attention to detail!!!

I bet you thought that welding machine was Miller too!!

It's all about attention to detail!!!

[Andy249]

I have a jig that I pull all the sheet over to get the shape, the best part for both myself and the customer is that all of those sheets are pulled into place by hand, the less stress in the structure the better in my opinion, should mean that the chance of cracking up later on its life is dramatically decreased.

Thanks for picking up the air in the tyre migmaniac, I was really hoping noone would see that! At least you know the photo is genuine and unedited!! he he!

Nice work!!! Oh by the way the trailor in Pic 4 needs air in the tire

[Orion]

Nice, how do you shape the metal for a boat?

When I did this type of work we used come-a-longs,dogs and wedges to get the skin in place on the hull.

Very nice looking boat.

[Andy249]

When I got off the net last night I thought how cruel I was to not supply any specs! Sorry 'bout that.

Specs are:
Layout: Bowrider configuration
Plate Thickness: 4mm (1/4" bottom and side sheet)
Length: 5.2m (17 feet)
Beam: 2.5m (8' 2")
Freeboard: 750mm (2' 5")

Draft: This is tricky as the boat is a planing hull and will get right out of the water under power. At rest I don't think it will settle more than 1' in the water. Yet to be seen though, I'll post here again when I have done all my testing.

Top Speed: With a 115hp four stroke Yamaha on the back it might be able to push 50knots, this hull configuration is a proven one and is incredibly efficient, it will plane in two boat lengths and remain pretty level when coming out of the hole.

I think building pontoon boats would be a pretty good way to start with building boats, the pontoons themselves are pretty easy to build! Then all you need to do is build a deck structure on them similar to a house boat. Need to find out the rules and regs and standards on them, it really influences the way your design criteria pans out. Not sure how much you know about hull design etc, but it maybe an idea to engage the services of a naval architect to design the pontoons and give you an idea as to what the loadings,

Those two tanks that I included are 1200 litres (317 gallons) a piece. Plate used was 6mm Aluminium. Pulse Tigged the weld joints with the little Cigweld 300 (please don't hurt me Miller, I wanted a dynasty but couldn't wait 6 weeks!). These little inverter welders just blow me away in terms of both efficiency and control over the welding variables. The aircooled torch on this welder heated up less than water cooled torches I have used in the past, and the aircooled was pushing far higher amperage!!

[Mike W]

Nice, how do you shape the metal for a boat?