My attempt at building the Mean Machine

[tlandauer]

Dana, thanks so much for the heads up! I was just wondering about the strut height.

[tlandauer]

I soldered two tabs on the stuffing tube so the epoxy will grab better, I am sure this is totally unecessary: it is also why I made the "TO BE IGNORED LIST" by Fluid!
DSCN2792_2256.jpg I put the tube in this board so I can get the right angle when soldering.
DSCN2798_2262.jpgDSCN2794_2258.jpg
I will sand the floor real well, I did sand it today but the woven floor is hard to scuff, the higher weaves get sanded but the lower ones are still intact, was afraid to damage it but I think needs more scuffing though.

[justski]

its going to be hell when you have to replace it.. i put a small piece of the next size bigger tube in so if i do bend it it will just slide out with out having to cut it out

[tlandauer]

Thanks, I began thinking just the same later, there is a reason why nobody does that even if it does add some strength to it.
Guess will bent anothere tube ...

[Rumdog]

Looks good! There is no reason you should ever have to replace the stuffing tube. I wouldn't worry about it.

[justski]

I'm sorry i know i am new to this my self.. but there is no way your going to tell me that nothing will ever happen to the that thin tubing ...i read in a lot of threads of people replacing them for one reason or another

[tlandauer]

Looks good! There is no reason you should ever have to replace the stuffing tube. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks Rumdog, I really appreciate your opinion, for me that is reasuring .
I know people replace it from time to time , however, my original thoughts were that if it is build correctly the tube should last a long time. In my case I never race and seldom have time to over run a boat. Unless I sell it, guess I will have to give next buyer a discount.

[tlandauer]

@ Justski, like i said, you are right. There is a REASON why I am on Fluid's infamous list, ( don't get me wrong, I respect him a great deal!) however, to make his list I feel honored. My problem is that I like to over build things and sometimes at the expense of practicality.

[justski]

LOL...i understand ..lol..i over build too...i been over building for years and sometimes i get bit in the A$$ but i keep on doing it .lol you can see the picture of my bike some people say i did it wrong but no one has ever beat me in a race yet 103mph in 660ft on ice and i haven't hit the N.O.S yet..LOL

[jaike5]

IMO the stuffing tube looks like its more of right angle as apossed to a gentle curve or maybe its just the pic.

[tlandauer]

Thanks for pointing it out, I think it is ok, picure has something to do with it, part of the reason is that the sponsons are shalow, I am told that the strut needs to be high, so there is not much room for a "rounded" curve as we normally would really prefer.

[Rumdog]

I've built at least 30 boats. Never have I had to replace a stuffing tube due to wear.
Dana is right.. It will be most stable with that strut up as high as you can get it. A slight "S" bend in the tube will also help to get it lined up nicely with the strut.

[tlandauer]

I've built at least 30 boats. Never have I had to replace a stuffing tube due to wear.
Dana is right.. It will be most stable with that strut up as high as you can get it. A slight "S" bend in the tube will also help to get it lined up nicely with the strut.

Thanks for your input and reassurance, I hate to even entertain the thought of replacing the stuffing tube, it is a messy job anyway you look at it, IMO.
I know one of your builds personally, Love that DF 26, that wet tube design for me is a technical tour-de-force. I hope eventually oneday I can do a build just like that!

[tlandauer]

My build has come to a screeching halt because of lack of parts! Thought I had a aluminum servo mount but guess I had used it for a BlackJack rebuild.
Meanwhile, here is what I have done so far: I used JB Weld to secure the stuffing tibe. After much thought I decided to leave the metal tabs there for added support. That is the reason for the rather large circle, used a small dia. fuel line to form a ring , the hair bands that girls use were too small. DSCN2802_2266.jpg.
I was leaning on the Etti motor mount till I tried to drill a roll of holes on the bottom edge "a la" Leo mount without any success. Went back and took a second look at the fixed angle aluminum mount. The stuffing tube lined up perfectly and I was confident enough to take a dive for it.
The floor is not exactly even given the CF that was reinfored from AeroMarine, I wanted to have total separate control of mounting the mount and then having the means to align it to the stuffing tube, along the way to make it strong. Here is what I have come up with:DSCN2807_2271.jpg ,DSCN2812_2276.jpg.

[tlandauer]

DSCN2823_2286.jpg,DSCN2826_2289.jpg, DSCN2827_2290.jpg