BobKat; save those scraps!!

[Avanti]

looking good Peter

[Mich. Maniac]

Thats awesome. I am wondering why the slanted steps? Does it really matter whether they are straight or slanted like yours? To me I like yours cause they add ridgity to the structure. Just curious if it matters.

[Avanti]

I believe they are angled to pack more air in to the tunnel

[ace028]

I think the idea of the slanted steps is to channel the spray that they may make to the rear, and maybe make it handle better, you have more boat in the water at the inside of the sponson then the outside. I think they would make less drag the way they are slanted then if they were slanted in the opposite direction or just straight across. But I am just speculating. Let the pros answer this one.

[peells]

I saw the old plans were slanted thought it looked cool so I kept them, and the steps are getting re worked so as not to be a leak monster which in there original condition they are, but I have a real nice quick fix and that is going on the plans as well most likely on a general note page.

[Avanti]

where are the progress pics? ace is catching up to you.

[peells]

Yes Ace is catching up!! but I will be having more pics today as I am going to put on the bottom and epoxy the edges (I hate split seams)

[peells]

Oh yea by the way Ace has not started sanding yet (that is always the fun part) and that is where my auto body skills start showing, I learned years ago about hand sanding JUST DO IT it stinks and if you do a good job the best is yet to come!!!

[lonewolf]

Avanti is correct about packing in more air into the tunnel....

Sand fill sand repeat... and keep going all the way dow to about 500 grit...
Then seal/ prime and start the sanding all over
Then add paint and more sanding ]

ect........................................ till it seems like forever then clear and wetsand ect....
When all said and done if you did the work it will show and really pay off

[peells]

more pictures

well I see now everyone is awake so here is what I have done today!!
1. I added a piece to carry the nose skin see picture.
2. I added ledger strips to hold the upper skins on the sponsons,
3. I epoxied in the sponsons paying attention to the steps
(don't want any leaks there.)
4. I added stripping along the area where the nose skin wraps down in front.
5. Added strips along the bottom as to stiffen it and create a platform for
the floor where the batteries will ride.
6. Then I made the nose skin from 1/64" ply (probably like 1/2" in scale)
7. made the bottom skin,
8. and finally I took a bunch of photos along the way for you all to look at.

[peells]

well here are more pics

[ace028]

Looking good, now I have to catch up.

[peells]

Hatching

OK no look real close at my sponsons and you will see no seams at the front before the steps start!! and only after you see the steps. Now that I said that, Take a look at the start on my hatch!!! Couldn't keep my hands off the thing, I skinned the whole boat in 1/64" Birch ply. and made the hatch out of 1/32" Birch ply. I made 4 pieces of 1/32" radiusd to match the stringers and glued 1/8"x1/8" balsa strips to them to keep them to the shape of the stringers and then I in set them to fit between the 1/4"x1/4" balsa I forgot to tell you That I glued to both of the Stringers set down 1/32" to carry the edge of the hatch on both sides and match the skin on the tops of the sponsons (with a little luck).

[ace028]

Looks good, now you have to put the top skin on, paint it with my orange paint.

[peells]

Before Or After The Hydromite? And The Tops Of The Sponsons No Problem, Looks Like You Need Some Stincels