1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Well, carp fellas. No boat work today. Tomorrow isn't looking good either..

And I KNOW I still need to post pix of the original handles & at least 1 of the possible stern eyes. I have a few to choose from......

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Tool cool JB. I love Duracrafts. I also signed the under side of the Sea Scamps seats, and referenced my Iboats resto thread.

Just browsed the thread so far, I'll come back and look her over real good when I get a minute.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Bwanna Don: Welcome to the super secret boat works :watermelon:

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Put the handles back for sure. I'm planning on using mine for tie downs. I have no doubt that they will hold just fine, they are designed to hold UP the boat being carried so holding it down should be no problem too. I just have to extend my trailer to have somewhere to hook to back there. I love the original look they give.

+1. I use my handles for tie downs too. Never had a problem. I just made sure to put some fender washers on the transom side for good measure.

 

[59 Fatty]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB,
Great idea signing and dating the under (back) side of the transom. I'm gonna do the same with the seat backs. Skunkworks, I like it......I call mine Area 51 because my wife can never find me out there! LOL!!!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Well, winter is upon me, and work has been challenging this week to say the least. A good bit of my momentum has slowed, but I did manage to get the transom sanded in prep for it's last coat of epoxy. With a little luck, it'll go on Fri while many gorge themselves shopping.

I need to build 4 more engine stands, and get the last donor boat motor pulled.

Doing some more of the paperwork to be ready to have the donor boats & trailers inspected & processed. Working a sideline deal over the next week or so too.

I am seriously going to try & get the Duracraft thru a door into my workspace. A 35" deep boat thru a 32" opening will be a challenge.....

We'll have to wait & see how that plays out. If I can swing it, it's full steam ahead w/ the remaining demo & prep work followed by flipping the boat. Then try to homebrew SOMETHING that will work at least half as well as the magic stripper IM stumbled upon. Jeez a half day to completely strip a 15ft hull :facepalm: Amazing.

Safe Strip by Nutura, from Home Hardware in Canada. Not available in the US, Dag Nab It!

To all travelers this holiday weekend: Travel safe.

To all:

From my family to all of yours!

Remember to be thankful for all that you have, and to give generously to those that don't.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Hope to squeeze some time in on some tin myself over the long weekend.

 

[Decker83]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Wanted to drop in before now.. I have been following along but not posting.. Great work so far..

Here's to you and your family having a happy and safe ThanksGiving Holiday.. Thanks for all your input here on i-boats John..

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Decker: Thanks for the compliments! Happy Turkey day to you & yours.

Very interested in the Tin development you mentioned over on Jas' thread. Very intriguing... Go TEAM Tin!

Glasser guys are ok too, in an itchy & scratchy kinda way....

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hope you are having a great Thanksgiving jb !

 

[Trooper82]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Don't over do it....Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

thanks for stopping by over the long weekend, hope all had a great day & time w/ family...

The Admiral had plans for me that did not include boat work.... But I did go by after work today. And attempted to run some solid rivets.
From the top side:

From the back side:

Not bad for NEVER using an air riveter, which seemed to go pretty good. But the bucking bar, as evidence from the misshapen rivets on the back side, needs some work.

I did fiddle w/ the air pressure at the compressor & the air volume at the riveter, but CLEARLY need some more practice before attempting any visible rivets on the actual boat & hull :cold:

Good news, I have LOTS of scrap metal studs to mock up & practice with. I also need to confirm which rivets I was using. I have both the harder alloy (2117T4) and the softer (1100F) more malleable rivets on hand. Hopefully they were the harder 2117T4 and I can 'learn' to use the riveter on the softer 1100F rivets and get better at driving them and move up to the harder ones.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Nice reevits

Hope you butter that door and squeeze her through.

Later

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I think the door frame is going to meet my sawzall. Door & frame has to come out , it's not to code anyway.

Thanks @reevits :watermelon:

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

You rivet purists and mushing those solids.

I got my HF air riveter off the truck and wow is that ever the way to go. Poo chink... done.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

You rivet purists and mushing those solids.

I have 2 areas that are VERY visible on both sides & I'd like to try & use solid rivets rather then have the mushrooms of a closed end blind rivet. For most of it, I already have a stockpile of closed end blind pop's....

I got my HF air riveter off the truck and wow is that ever the way to go. Poo chink... done.

I'm waiting to decide if I 'need' 1/4" rivets or not, rather then buy the 3/16" & wish I'd gotten the 1/4" gun. Perhaps the next round of HF sales will push me to buy the 1/4" regardless of the need.

But yep, air driven rivet gun is a pre-xmas or xmas gift. From myself or the Admiral

It's HER boat, perhaps I should GIVE her an air riveter for xmas to work on HER boat :facepalm:

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB, I just ordered some rivets and a couple of sets from the U.S. can't find a decent supplier of solid ones up here!! Should a guy be using the hard or soft ones?

 

[lokonn]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

It's HER boat, perhaps I should GIVE her an air riveter for xmas to work on HER boat :facepalm:

Be sure to we know where to send the flowers!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB, I just ordered some rivets and a couple of sets from the U.S. can't find a decent supplier of solid ones up here!! Should a guy be using the hard or soft ones?

I actually have no idea, there's an even harder alloy rivet available, but the 2 I mentioned were the only 2 alloys the place I ordered mine from offered. I thought actually using them might suggest which would be better in certain applications.

My suspicion is that the softer rivet will drive better, flatten out better on the bucking bar side, be less prone to shearing off the head (unless over driven) but not have quite as much grip strength. VS the harder alloy being more difficult to drive, harder to finish/dress nicely on the bucking bar side, have a stronger grip strength (if driven correctly) BUT be more prone to shearing the head off even when driven correctly. But this is all IF the rivets are driven expertly...

Give all that ^^^ I figured it'd be better to give both alloys a few practice runs and ultimately make a best guess. I wasn't sure the place I bought them from would want to recommend which to use in each application on my Duracraft's rebuild, since they aren't boat rebuilders.

But in 30min +/- I will call them and ask. Nothing ventured nothing gained......

Unfortunately, I am an unknown, so it may not matter much which rivet I choose because I won't be driving them optimally anyway, and certainly not as well as the Duracraft fellas did when they were last riveting on this tub at the factory.

The softer alloy rivet will probably look better when I hammer them flat, have enough grip strength & be more forgiving if I am not as talented a riveter as I probably should be undertaking this task. The harder alloy will be much more difficult for me to drive, drive well & also maximize the grip strength they offer as an unskilled riveter.

Be sure to we know where to send the flowers!

Yeah, about that ^^^, I'm crazy NOT stupid

I understand the Admiral may disagree on the later :facepalm: :watermelon:

Is marine vinyl a better choice for the Admiral at xmas, so she can have most of the winter to sew some seat covers?

Be back after I touch base w/ Rivets Online............

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

If your painting over the rivets, I was thinking about something like the blind rivet cap to make the job more finished looking.