All Aluminum Dinghy

[Fence Man]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Awesome! I love the idea for a larger boat.

Please keep us updated with plenty of photos.

Matt

I will do that, Matt. If I had your video and presentation skills, I'd let the camera roll.
Would you mind to give me your thoughts on paint? After seeing what you guys went through, I know what not to use! I have some Gator Glide (might make dragging it easier) left over that I could paint the bottom with, but what would you do about the topside?

Thanks,
Luke

[Fence Man]

Actual width of the pontoons is 15-1/2" for a total boat width of 71". Pontoons are 18" tall.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Fence Man

I will do that, Matt. If I had your video and presentation skills, I'd let the camera roll.
Would you mind to give me your thoughts on paint? After seeing what you guys went through, I know what not to use! I have some Gator Glide (might make dragging it easier) left over that I could paint the bottom with, but what would you do about the topside?

Thanks,
Luke

With 5052, I'd leave it as bare of paint as possible. On the tube tops and where ever you may step, I'd apply a foam deck material like Seadek... it is slip free and the insulation from the heat will be much needed when in the sun.

Also, since weight isn't going to be a huge concern, maybe weld in studs around the tubes to install dock bumper strips.

Matt

[Fence Man]

Got the rake cut and tacked up. Not looking forward to the 48' of TIG weld that needs done before the pontoons are ready to cut and tack on.

[Fence Man]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

With 5052, I'd leave it as bare of paint as possible. On the tube tops and where ever you may step, I'd apply a foam deck material like Seadek... it is slip free and the insulation from the heat will be much needed when in the sun.

Also, since weight isn't going to be a huge concern, maybe weld in studs around the tubes to install dock bumper strips.

Matt

I will look into the Seadek. I've used a product called Hydro Turf before, which I assume is similar. I'm back and forth on what kind of dock bumper to install. I have an order of boat material coming in the next couple of weeks, and I can have them throw in a bumper extrusion that accepts a rubber bumper. The other option would be a wrap around bumper like what is on the Delos dinghy. I tracked down the website of that builder, and it appears that the bumper is designed to flip up for a bit of a windbreak/half ass dodger. Any insight would be appreciated.

[Matt Johnson]

Very impressive work! Seems you've gotten a ton done in a short amount of time.

Unfortunately, you're into new territory for me and any suggestion would be a guess and unproven.

I did build a fiberglass dinghy a few years ago that had a fire hose like bumper material from Taylor Made. It looked dingy and stained after the first week of use, but made for terrific scuff guard against the mothership.

Matt

[Bleemus]

Cool project! Curious about the final weight when done. Some nice welding there!

[Fence Man]

Originally Posted by Bleemus

Cool project! Curious about the final weight when done. Some nice welding there!

Thanks Bleemus! It'll be about 225 without any seats or anchor locker/front deck. I will weigh it when I get it functional, and then see how much we add to it in creature comforts/debris. I will say, the .100" bottom and .090" pontoons are much stiffer with the brakes than I anticipated.

[Fence Man]

Got the bottom TIGed up inside and out. I couldn't get in a comfortable position, and struggled a little. It'll be covered with a keel guard, and it is a good weld, so I won't monkey with trying to straighten out the zig and the zag. I smoked over a hundred pounds of brisket and ribs for a wedding last night. Fired the smoker at 6:30 Friday night for the brisket, and pulled the last of the ribs off at 5:45 last night(Saturday). I mention this for any of you planning a TIG welding project after a two day meat smoking project....I have been shaking like a dog shitting a peach seed all day. I would speculate that it has something to do with the massive quantity of beer that was required to get that job done. I got plenty of practice sharpening my tungsten. Finally settled into a bit of a rhythm after supper and got one pontoon about half done with minimal thermal distortion.

[Matt Johnson]

Welding aluminum and brisket..... look out, I'm moving in!

Matt

[Fence Man]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Welding aluminum and brisket..... look out, I'm moving in!

Matt

We have plenty of room.....come anytime!

[Fence Man]

Lets talk horsepower and transom height. The last 12' boat I built, we hung a 50 horse Mercury 4 stroke tiller motor on the back. While 50knots is fun in a little slick bottom boat, it's hardly practical. Used 25-40 horse 2 strokes are fairly easy to find around here, but they are mostly long shaft outfits. I don't see any real good reason to jump right into a new Yamaha 4 stroke until we make sure this concept is viable, but if there is some reason that a taller transom is undesirable, I'd rather know now and not be rebuilding a transom in 3 month.

So, the questions are:

How much power?

Short shaft or long shaft?

I'd still like to hear thoughts on a tunnel hull? (Like a jet or flats boat tunnel, not like a catamaran tunnel)

[Fence Man]

Not much progress to report, as it's been a hectic week. I made a few cleats and a couple of stern eyes. I liked the looks of this bow eye, so I blew 12 bucks. I think that with a 1/4" backing plate, it should be sufficient for towing. I'm planning on a round tubing rail/grab handle most of the way around, so I'm not convinced that I'll put the cleats on. Any thoughts from all of you regular dinghy users would be appreciated. Probably won't be much progress for a couple of weeks, as we have nearly a mile of fence to get in before we head for FL this Saturday. 10 years of wedded bliss, so we are off to see Jack Johnson from the front row (thanks to family that volunteer at the venue) in St. Augustine. Not quite my speed, but I do love my wife very much. We are planning to take a drive down the coast, see a few boats, and hopefully drink a beer or two with some of you.

[David M]

I agree with not painting aluminum. The durable coating for aluminum is aluminum oxide, by far.

[Matt Johnson]

Never had a RIB with cleats, but I can't see a huge need for them if you have a welded in hand bar around the boat to tie off to. For our usage, I think they would be in the way and catch things too often.

Matt