'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I vote for starting the double 3/4 ply like the drawing on the right. Then doubling the plywood keying the layers together:

Or there abouts

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I almost drew it like that....that would make it stronger.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Yep, much more surface area for glue IN the joint

I'll add your name to the great minds list....Or was it the birds of a feather...

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper, looks great! Nice, clean lines back there... I know how hard it is to get that set up and the angles just right, so kudos my friend... We are just about at the same spot... Keep plugging!

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper, looks great! Nice, clean lines back there... I know how hard it is to get that set up and the angles just right, so kudos my friend... We are just about at the same spot... Keep plugging!

Thank you sir. I have been keeping an eye on your thread too.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Getting ready to make the tank area...wanted to do a test fit so drug the tank out of the shed..100+ in there...whew hot....

Decided to give the tank a good inspection. Found several(20=) spots that are corroded. The tank is made from .090" aluminum.

My question....can I fix this or leave it be? I have not touched it with a brush or scratch pad. One place on the top looks like it was from a brace that was put in. If you recall, the tank was completely encased in foam.

Thanks for the help...pics are not as good as I had hoped. I circled all the locations in red marker. If you need me to I can try for better pictures...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Wow Troop, I spend a couple days rained in and making bullets, next thing I know you have made a ton of progress on your boat...

Way to go, bro...looking awesome...

The best advice I could give on the tank is to take it someplace that can do a proper pressure test on it...or if you have one of these available... http://www.stant.com/Consumer-Products/Testers---Adapters/...and... you cap off all the openings and do your own...if it holds the required pressure for the required time...you could prolly clean it up real good and JB weld any pits, and be good to go...JIK, check with the pros...

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Thanks GT, I will move forward as if I can use the tank. I mean it had gas in it when I got it, so assume it will be alright. Which type of JB weld? I have used the stuff for plastic, didn't know they had it for aluminum.

Also...ok to brush it or leave it be? I know it makes it's own "skin" more or less.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

[h=2]Got this from the J-B Weld site...

Q: Do you make a J-B Weld specific for aluminum or stainless steel?[/h] A: J-B Weld works great on ANY metal surface (lead is an exception). Use as directed on package and J-B Weld will get the job done.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Got a little more done tonight. Ran into a design problem with the fuel locker.

I put a sheet of ply under the tank. Is this acceptable? When I pulled it out it was totally encased in foam, don't want to do that.

The tank is 50" long. I need to be able to use a 48" wide panel to cover it. So I plan on putting some blocks 1 3/4" wide in the areas marked in red. Attached directly to the bulkheads. This will allow me to have somewhere to screw the dech sheet too. I also moved the stringers in about 6" total. I may end up putting a short stringer in to compensate from here forward.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Seems like a good time for this link about under deck tank installations

If you're starting the full 48" wide sheets from the transom, where does that 48" fall across the top of the tank? Then your next 48" sheet takes it forward beyond the front end of the tank. That also then only has 1 seam over your tank, and plenty of plywood 'meat' around any thru deck hatches you might put over the sending units &/or the in/out fittings.......

^^^ help any??

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

The first section isn't the full 48" only 33" or so. that is why I am starting the 48" from bilge bulkhead forward. I hadn't really thought about it too much until I put the tank in tonight to see how it was going to lay with a sheet under it. Glad I found it now instead of later...done did that mistake once (cut / then measure).

The bulkheads are all in different locations now vs. where they were when I took them out, but that doesn't bother me any.

 

[sphelps]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Are you running the ply parallel with the stringers ? would that be ok with the width of the tank? To far of a span and it may sag . Just an un educated thought..

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

The first section isn't the full 48" only 33" or so. that is why I am starting the 48" from bilge bulkhead forward. I hadn't really thought about it too much until I put the tank in tonight to see how it was going to lay with a sheet under it. Glad I found it now instead of later...done did that mistake once (cut / then measure). The bulkheads are all in different locations now vs. where they were when I took them out, but that doesn't bother me any.

If you don't mind cutting the motorwell area out of a full sheet, start at the transom & lay the deck coming forward. That'd put the 1st seam in the floor, @15" forward of the aft end of the tank. Smaller benefit, but might be of note, is the additional torsional rigidity of having a 'U' shaped piece surrounding the motorwell, and it then ties both aft areas beside the motor together. and overall you'll have fewer seams in the decking. In home construction, it would be a much stronger assembly & be much preferred, but boat building(??)

Are you running the ply parallel with the stringers ? would that be ok with the width of the tank? To far of a span and it may sag . Just an un educated thought..

W/ 3/4" ply thickness this might be possible, as the tank 'looks' to be @24+/-" wide, but the ply is stronger laid across the hull w/ the 48" width oriented fore to aft....

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Yes I plan on running the 48" fore/aft. It is also 3/4" thickness.

As in "A" in the picture.

The dimensions are not the same now. But same idea. When you say a U shape, you mean left/right if the U being from transom going forward, then across the top of tank area? I have a span in my shed that has no support on a seam like that and it flexes (5/8) so didn't want that to happen.

Make sense?

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I also plan to put some sort of bracing going left/right under the deck going across the tank, but not touching the tank.

 

[sphelps]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Sorry I was typing while you were posting I see the ply is going perpendicular.. Like i said an un educated thought..:facepalm:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

There shouldn't be any edges that are unsupported esp at the seams running starboard to port. They should all fall on a bulkhead or on a 3/4" cleat that runs under the edge the whole width of the boat....

Does that drawing help^^?

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Yes that helps. Actually what I thought you were saying, but pictures help

So what is supporting the plywood seam cleat? just screw it into first sheet, then second sheet pulls it up flush?

What if I did that, but added some side girder type things like bulkheads? So I would be supporting that seam/cleat on the outside of tank at least.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Yes that helps. Actually what I thought you were saying, but pictures help So what is supporting the plywood seam cleat? just screw it into first sheet, then second sheet pulls it up flush? What if I did that, but added some side girder type things like bulkheads? So I would be supporting that seam/cleat on the outside of tank at least.

Wrap 4" X 48" wide strip of 3/4" w/ CSM, then PB it to bottom of 1st sheet and clamp/screw til kicked. Make sure not to put the cleat in where the ply crosses your stringers, I drew it that way for speed.......

My Glastron had a similar wrapped ply cleat, but it is laid into the stringers flush to the tops, I'll put them back in before laying the deck.

I think friscoboater added extra bulkheads, but I don't remember if it was for the deck layout, stiffening the hull/deck or what..... So w/ in reason, I don't think a couple extra bulkheads would be a problem.....