tinny's belated birthday project

[MrWobbygong]

So I've recently bought an electric motor and starting enquiring about the plate being fabricated to the bow.. I'm keen to add some flat gunnell to the sides of the boat and extend the casting deck to fit a livewell/ more storage...

so I got to thinking...

Being my first boat and also being an apprentice, why not have a crack myself?

I have never welded aluminium but weld stainless and carbon pipe regularly, have access to an AC/DC tig and can get enough materials to do all the jobs for a similar price it would cost to do just the bow mount...

I think I'm going to use this topic to document and record the progress, happy to hear any advice from people that fabricate or have any constructive recommendations to the build... 

To start, I'll give a bit of history on the boat.. I sold my Hobie PA14 when this boat came up. Pretty much a clean swap. It's a Horizon 2000ish 4.2m with a 30hp 2001 Honda 30hp on the back. Trailer was only 12 months old but I believe had been mistreated (along with the boat and motor, they lived on stradbroke)

the motor wasn't running so started with new fuel , fuel lines, filters, got it started but wouldn't get on the plane... 

Carbies next...

Bought a carby gasket set, thermostat, impeller service kit, new plugs and got stuck in. Pulled down the carburettors and took them to the local small motor mechanic to be ultrasonic cleaned, reassembled 

still wouldn't get on the plane.. 

Stripped down the carbies again, somehow there was gunk in the bowl so ultrasonic cleaned again then cleaned the jets by hand with oxy tip cleaners...

My first time on the plane, beautiful! Cruises around 20kts in good conditions, to date have not assessed l/km but it really isnt concerning. Have taken it for over 40km round trips up north. Just take some extra fuel ️ 

the tilt mechanism was damaged and the tiller arm didnt move vertically at all, sorted those out with replacement parts. Was very hard to steer for the first couple months until I found a bolt that restricted movement in the steering, loosened that and greased the nipples.  

In a perfect world, I would have a newer motor and a newer tinny but this is what I have to work with. She's not perfect or pretty but she's honest. 

I'll post photos and updates when things happen. if you got this far into the write up I commend you.

Hope I have this in the write sub category.. 

Also, in the meantime, I'm going to keep fishing, I'm keen to catch more fish on lures, if anyone is keen to come for a burn on the water and show me some things, let me know. (Really just want your GPS marks)  

[ellicat]

Sounds like you have the skills to make a fist of it.

Looking forward to following along. (Especially when the pic issue is sorted...)

[benno573]

sounds like fun mate and a good learning experience - as long as you can keep fishing in the meantime of course...

[Rebel]

Big A for effort.

Well done.

[Hweebe]

If you have the tools and a bit of experience - I say give it a crack. This is why we buy boats (sort of) to tinker / alter / change to be the ultimate fishing weapon  

 

 

[burger]

46 minutes ago, Hweebe said:

If you have the tools and a bit of experience - I say give it a crack

THIS!

Wish I had sufficient mechanical aptitude to attempt something like this  . . . . but alas my few skills lie elsewhere.

[Huxstang]

If you are into Youtue have a look at Part 1 of the boat build on Greg’s Wicked Fishing (he is a bayside boy).  He bought a 5m plate boat and had RipTide fabricate a new casting deck and other mods.  Might give you some ideas at least as its a very different boat.

And get into it.  If you can fabricate and weld this will be a walk in the park.  

[MrWobbygong]

Been a while between "drinks" ...

 

Life has swamped me of late, losing hair faster than I'm losing money but still kicking so can't complain..

Ended up picking up a second hand ACDC tig and some Consumables off the wifes facebook marketplace for $500... has dual pulse inbuilt which is nice I suppose... 350A unit so plenty of heat when it's needed.. compliments my dedicated DC pipe welder nicely. Perfect to stay in the shed for little jobs...

Picked up the 4mm plate and SHS from the local metal supplier on a Saturday which was nice... $130 

Anyway, made up the trolling motor mount today, enjoyed welding the fresh ally, enjoyed everything but welding upside down tying the mount into the dirty aluminium. Got it on, it's solid... 

Have booked a site at mission point next weekend with the family to celebrate mothers day (and also run the pots and flick some lures about)

.... good to have some progress on the boat, definitely made me think about the mods I'm gonna do in the future and how I can make the welding as easy as possible. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice stuff!