Finally-I'm building my boat

[pipedog]

This boat runs dry with ease..LOL!.... She leaving her birth place to move on to the next phase.
Motor will be done soon, ordered a Ox Box 2.68 and a 82" 3 bld "R" !!!!

[lilly-Pad]

nice looking great

[flcracker9]

Keep the pics coming Kyle, gonna be one sweet boat! I'm sure both you and Jerry are proud of how the hull turned out. Also, if you ever need a hand, call me, I'm just a few minutes away!. Sorry I couldn't make the Kissimmee trip, but did make it up there the following weekend and rode the marsh. Let me know when you're ready to take a break from boat building and go riding, or if you just need someone to drink beer while watching you work on the boat!!!.

[pipedog]

Thanks Kevin we'll do some riding soon. Next thing to do is to primer the hull

[pipedog]

The boat sat for a little bit while I collected some big pieces of the puzzle. Here's a few pic's of the progress
Thanks to Birddog24/7 for the help!!

[pipedog]

[pipedog]

Birddog going at it

[pipedog]

Engine stand all tacked up

[pipedog]

A little bit of time and a lot of beer

[flcracker9]

A little bit of time and a lot of beer

Shaping up nicely Kyle. Is the motor done, or did you just use it for mock-up?
Kevin

[pipedog]

Thats a mock-up motor. My motor is at a machine shop in Lox- the guy is a fireman so he does it part time and by-himself
plus he has a few motors in front of mine. Maybe I should have brought it somewhere else, but he does very good work and I
got a lot of work to do before I absolutely need it. I'm having a good time building my boat so i'm not going to rush it, but if it's not done soon my wife will have my a$$

[Hardtail]

Pipedog, just curious what made you go with the 6061 over 7075? And what thickness did you have to build the bottom out of?

The Old timer that is helping me build it has always used 6061, says it's a little easyer to work with. We used 125 on the bottom, and scratch it real heavy before the steel flex so it sticks good.
the 6061 comes in 5x12 sheets so two sheets together make a 7.5 ft wide boat with high sides. 7075 you have to add strips to the sides for a wide boat. 7075 is lighter and stronger and more $$ also
from what I'm told can be brittle, but I'm sure you would have to hit something really hard to crack it. 6061 can be welded as 7075 can't. For the type of boat I'm building(family ride boat) the 6061 was the way to go for me.

Pipedog,
I have been experimenting with Steel Flex 2000 on my boat, and last attempt to get it to last, I've added the fiberglass mesh in between wet layers of the steel flex and have not burned or wore through it yet, it makes it thicker and add toughness to it. I put 2 more coats on after the fiberglass mesh and sand lightly with 60 grit in between coats.
Before I did this I would be adding steel flex every other week if riding 70+ miles every weekend.

[flcracker9]

Pipedog,
I have been experimenting with Steel Flex 2000 on my boat, and last attempt to get it to last, I've added the fiberglass mesh in between wet layers of the steel flex and have not burned or wore through it yet, it makes it thicker and add toughness to it. I put 2 more coats on after the fiberglass mesh and sand lightly with 60 grit in between coats.
Before I did this I would be adding steel flex every other week if riding 70+ miles every weekend.[/quote]


Bruce, Kevin here (guy with the olive drab 6cyl boat, we rode ENP 2 weeks ago), the guy that helped Pipedog build his hull, also built my hull many years ago. I believe Kyle applied the steelflex to seal the rivets, and then installed poly over the steelflex. He won't have to worry about the steelflex wearing out!

[Hardtail]

Pipedog,
I have been experimenting with Steel Flex 2000 on my boat, and last attempt to get it to last, I've added the fiberglass mesh in between wet layers of the steel flex and have not burned or wore through it yet, it makes it thicker and add toughness to it. I put 2 more coats on after the fiberglass mesh and sand lightly with 60 grit in between coats.
Before I did this I would be adding steel flex every other week if riding 70+ miles every weekend.

Bruce, Kevin here (guy with the olive drab 6cyl boat, we rode ENP 2 weeks ago), the guy that helped Pipedog build his hull, also built my hull many years ago. I believe Kyle applied the steelflex to seal the rivets, and then installed poly over the steelflex. He won't have to worry about the steelflex wearing out![/quote]

Okay,
Kevin you can help me build a boat any time, looks awesome, Anyway planning another boat ride in the Park soon, we may have 100's more boats show up so could be lots of fun meeting Boater from around the State, Hopefully Pipedog will be ready to ride soon.

[pipedog]

Bruce, sounds like you might be on to something

[Birddog247]

A little bit of time and a lot of beer

Almost looks like we know what we're doing.
Looks great man. The only problem with me helping you is now I want to build a new one!

[Boattrash55]

Pipedog,

your boat isn't by any chance at a guys house off 140th is it? theres a guy who lives 2 streets away thats always working on airboats haven't met him yet but theres a hull sitting by his shop that looks likes yours just curious.

[pipedog]

No sir, not my boat. We built the hull in loxahatchee groves, now it's at my shop

[Boattrash55]

oh ok lol just thought id ask always trying to meet more fellow air boaters in lox. btw my names Tyler I'm friends with kevin i ride with him and his son pat from time to time.

[pipedog]

10-4 will have to set-up a ride

[Boattrash55]

yes for sure my boats all tore apart now but soon enough.

[pipedog]

http://www.southernairboat.com/photopos ... ge140.jpeg
Holy crap....I'm finally working on my boat again

[Birddog247]

Let me know when your ready.

[pipedog]

i have the weekend off, so will be on it

[Birddog247]

Sounds good