Sheet Metal Boats - 2005,,,Year of the Sheet Metal Boat? pricer - Mar 18, 2005 - 12:51 PM Post subject: 2005,,,Year of the Sheet Metal Boat?
Hello All,
Spring is just around the corner, time to get started on that sheet metal boat. As many of you know, for some time now, I have been planning to build my first sheet metal boat. I am going to make another run at it this spring. Our shop has been so busy for the past few months, there just has not been enough time.
This year, I think, will be the year. I plan on starting small, car toppable,, and building the craft from galv steel. I have a drawing of the boat here in another post if anyone would like to shed some new light on the subject.
Grue has helped out a great deal with ideas for the boat. Haven't heard from him as of late. Should prove to be intresting or a novelty at best. I hope to have more info as time moves forward. The first boat should utilize simple pattern development and basic construction. Future projects will be a bit more complex Origami designs. If you are intrested in Origami designs or would just like to learn more, go to flatwatermetalcraft@yahoogroups.com for more info.metalbelle - Mar 20, 2005 - 03:39 AM Post subject:
be sure to take pictures. id be interested in seeing the boat.
MPBud - Mar 20, 2005 - 03:47 AM Post subject:
Pricer, what kind of construction is this going to involve...how will you go about the layout?
If there are seems, will you8 be using pop rivits or weld?
Interested in hearing more about this project.BobLuland - Mar 20, 2005 - 11:05 AM Post subject:
Pricer. Here’s your chance to show those folks at the Testing and Balancing Association just how air tight a Pittsburgh seam really is. Bobpricer - Mar 20, 2005 - 03:32 PM Post subject:
This is a picture of the boat, or similar to the boat I want to build. Bob, I was planning on using a pitts seam on this craft. I am thinking I will extend the boat picture slightly to make room for me and the scout ( He gets his Tiger badge Tuesday. Having the ability to cut longer sheets from the coil line is a great advantage. It will let me construct without any traverse seams.
As off now, I may even use a little bit of wood as a fraqme in the center of the hull. Not real sure on exactly how I will do this yet. I will build the skin of the hull first then reinforce as needed to make the boat strong. i am looking forward to learning much on this project and sharing the information. I think I will be able to build the hull using a 5' x 12 to 14' piece of 22 ga. Galv.
The boat will mostlikely be powered by an electric trolling motor or a small gas outboard. We will not be traveling far and the craft will be small enough to paddle anyway, good workout.
Let me know what you think. No, thats not me in the boat.cadruss2004 - Mar 29, 2005 - 10:47 AM Post subject:
Hi,
You'll find that galvanized is a very poor choice for boatbuilding, it's not USCG approved or insurable, welding the seams and joints produces chlorine gas as well.
Please try 508x aluminum, it's lighter, welds well and lasts in all waters.
We use it here at Mission Marine for our lines of commercial, patrol and service boats.Bud - Mar 29, 2005 - 11:17 AM Post subject:
Welcome! I have a couple of questions?
What is the difference between 508x and 5086? I did a search for this but come up empty handed.
and is there a list of reccomended gauge thickness for this material in boat applications. I'm interested in a building a small craft (gore style) to begin with, was going to pop rivet the seams and float the solder as they did in early boat building with sheet metal? But a small aluminum boat to have for the near by river would be very nice, just a one man craft.pricer - Mar 30, 2005 - 02:55 AM Post subject:
I agree, galv steel may not be the first choice for boat building material. Back in the 30's and 40's, the Mullins Boat Company built many boats using 20 gage galv. steel. The first craft I build will be small, car topable and will not be in the water for extended periods of time. The galv steel is something I use daily and it will be cost effective if I make some mistakes on my first craft. Once I find a pattern I really like or if the craft slowly evolves into something else I really like, I am sure I would build another in aluminum.
I hope to get started soon. I will post another drawing (simple) to see what you guys think of the sheet metal kayak. I have a plan on how to build the craft but the drawing will just give you an idea. I will work on the pattern as time moves forward.pricer - Mar 30, 2005 - 03:01 AM Post subject:
Sorry, this one works better.mullins - Oct 23, 2005 - 05:16 PM Post subject: Galvanized steel works just fine and is insurableActually Galvanized steel is a fine choice for building a boat, be advised that Mullins steel boats used galvanized iron. The seams were overlapped countersink riveted and soldered, not welded. Mullins also made some of the earliest aluminum boats in the 1890's. Most of the Mullins boats were ribbed with wood and a few with steel ribs.
I have a very short video showing a Coast Guard Auxillary group alongside thier galvanized steel Mullins boats. If you wish to make a simple galvanized steel boat, Pioneer has some very straightfoward models to pattern from. I have a rusted Pioneer boat you may have for free to copy from. Rest assured I have insured some of my more valuable Galvanized steel boats, the best thing is once restored they handle more punishment and need no maintenance anywhere near the old wooden boats did.
Mullins double dipped thier boats in zinc for a heavy coating and held up better than the competitions boats from the era. I have an 1899 duck boat on loan that is leakproof light and seaworthy, not to mention very fast. Though surviving Mullins steel boats surface on a regular basis, no surviving mullins aluminum boats are known to have survived, no Bronze hulls and 1 wooden hull and 3 cedar canoes.
The U.S. Navy used Mullins Launches for saltwater service as does the US food processing industry rely on zinc to seal salty preserves from the steel cans. I do believe that warships rely on steel for more than a century now, however the jet-liners use mainly aluminum currently being phased out for composites.
Bud - Oct 23, 2005 - 05:42 PM Post subject:
Welcome Mullins...
Thanks for the post..it is how we get smarter:) Wish I had time to build a boat? And then more to use it Bud - Oct 23, 2005 - 05:51 PM Post subject:
Hi Dave
Is there a place you know of that we may pick up plans or instructions for sheet metal boat? I have some older material from William Neubecker but it is hard to understand.bordontn - Oct 23, 2005 - 06:47 PM Post subject:
Pricer...If you cut a 45 degree on each end of your sides the bottom will have a curve to it...I buit a pirouge
using 1/4" under layment (luan)about 14' long. The sides are 10" ...28" across the bottom at widest point..
about 32" at top...Will post a picture later..Years ago my brother and I built a 26ga. pram 8'0" long..
We used a paned and knocked up seam/soldered...Like a tin -can seam...We took it the gulf...
bordontnbordontn - Oct 24, 2005 - 12:22 AM Post subject:
Pricer........Here is the pirouge that I built using 1/4" luan under-layment. Don't see why you couldn't use metal !pricer - Oct 24, 2005 - 06:17 PM Post subject:
Bordontn,
I too have built this boat you have pictured. Yours appears to look a bit better than mine, nice job! I am working on purchasing a 1016 brake at the moment for future curb building adventures and that will get me a bit closer to building my boat, finally! Can't wait to get started.BARNHART-STUDIOS - Oct 31, 2005 - 10:24 PM Post subject: corragated boat.
When my dad was younger '70s he built a corragated aluminum boat.
At that time there was 12 foot sheets of corrigated aluminum roofing.
he sealed two sheets in the center, pop rivits and tar ( I think ) and brought the front ends together..pop rivit again. the back of the boat was like a skiff where it was U shaped. With a Jig saw he cut in the corrigations and then tarred and screwed the joints.
Now on the floor this thing was just a mere thin skin. but once in the water the weight was distributed evenly and was very solid ( water pushing back .) If you think of it...this boat had about 24 differnt kiels.
anyway, just to share...pretty cheap too.
Paulpricer - Jan 02, 2006 - 06:43 PM Post subject:
Oh, I meant to say, "2006,,,,Year of the Sheet Metal Boat??? Yea, thats more like it. Ahh, the plans of a man's heart, foiled again. Must keep trying, stay and "Fight" as I heard a wise man once say." The Curb Shop Boat Works", just doesn't have a ring to it.
I still look forward to building my boat, maybe this is the year. I hope others are still intrested.mullins - Jun 12, 2006 - 02:59 PM Post subject: Pioneer Steel Boats of Middlebury INI have on hand a Pioneer Steel Boat that can be used to make a simple steel hull with. The metal is basically flat, boat is rusted through but available to use for a copy. I have to clean out the yard so I may soon put it up on e-Bay to sell starting at 1 cent, no reserve. If I hear from someone soon, the price is free, but must pick up here in NE Ohio.
