The Tin Mule Resto

[GA_Boater]

Compared to my efforts in the past, that looks pro to me, Sam.

 

[TankerDan]

Ok guys , I have been kinda getting into tinkering with some old classic outboards here lately . It's been pretty fun so far and I,m hoping it,s gunna help with my not so good mechanical skill some ..
Anyway I wanted a nice little tin boat to run them on when and if I can get them running .
I have no clue the brand of this boat all I know is it's a 1971 something or other ...I'ts not in bad shape I guess and the trailer is halfway decent ..
Gunna need a transom and the po run a bunch of silly cone on all the joints .Then his sil painted it with the ninja turtle green thats on there now .. I have picked up some gluvit to seal things up more properly . Do you use that on the inside and the outside joints ? Or is 5200 a better choice on the outside ? All I know is the silicone has gotta go .. How do you know when a rivet needs rebucking .. Any advise from the tin boat crew would be appreciated .. There is one dent in it and I will post a picture of it ..Your thoughts on trying to knock it back out or just leave it cause it may make things worse ..
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Did you ever find the out the manufacturer? The way the bow is put together and the underside look like my 65ish Lonestar. It was my project about 5 years ago.

 

[sphelps]

TD that is a real close match .. No not any luck on the manufacturer ..
The mid rail on yours has 3 rivets on the very end and it’s shaped a bit different . Other than that it’s pretty close .. For now it’s a Sammycraft I guess LOL !
when things get clamped yo something round they like to spin around . So I decided to weld a couple pcs of angle on the tube to hold the swivel jack .. No matter how tight I clamped it before it would still just spin ..

 

[sphelps]

Last bit of progress. That was kinda scary .. I used the 6013 rods with the setting on around 90 amps ..
I never burned through but came close a couple times ..good thing it’s under the fender . LOL!

 

[archbuilder]

You will love a mig if you get one, I don't really touch a stick until I get over 1/4". And I suck an stick....but a MIG really works well for thinner work. shielding gas doesn't work so hot in the wind however. I prefer stick to fluxcore MIG, but then again I don't use it much. Realistically I just sort of glue things together with a MIG lol! Looks like you are moving forward, and practicing, that is what counts! I have been working on a boat lift.......speaking of welding, whole other critter.

 

[sphelps]

Looking at this axle I was gunna use from another trailer . Everything is the same except the drilled spring mount holes . Can I just drill the holes in the correct spot for the gator trailer ? Would it hurt anything to leave the old hole there ? Fill it with a weld ? Then re-drill ?

 

[archbuilder]

I don't see how the new hold could hurt. It wouldn't be a bad idea to fill the old one, but the axles look cast to me, night be hard to weld. You could always braze if need be (assuming you have a torch). I don't think filling the old hole is a must, It would just give it a little more strength.

 

[sphelps]

Everything but the hubs have 2 good coats on epoxy primer and 2 good coats of the PPG Delfleet PUE .. Yellow Gator laundry ! LOL !

 

[sphelps]

Hope everyone is having a nice Memorial Day weekend . Let us not forget the sacrifice our armed forces have done for us in the past present and future .

 

[GA_Boater]

So reassembly is easy. Just bolt the yellow part to the..........um...............yellow part? LOL Gonna look good under the SammiCraft.

Enjoy the extra time off while honoring the sacrifices that made and makes it possible.

 

[sphelps]

GA , bolting all the yeller together did take a bit of time working here and there . But I think the Mules new ride is ready to take out of the garage finally .. I think it’s been close to a year ... I think the bottom paint s probably cured by now so I guess it’s safe to un turtle it . That’s if I can work the rollers and bunks out ..I hope I didn’t add too much extra tongue length . There’s no way to really adjust the axle back and forth ..

 

[sphelps]

We’re mobile !

 

[sphelps]

Anyone have any suggestions here ?

 

[GA_Boater]

The trailer should be blue or white so it doesn't clash with the boat?

Can the TM be rotated without hitting the hull? It looks tight.

The TM shaft needs to be longer or rework the mount so the TM drops down. The shaft looks like it's aluminum. If it's not an odd size, replace it with a longer one.

 

[buxmj]

Hey Sam, great progress! Is that the same yellow as the Tee Nee? I hope you don't get the trailers mixed up, lol.

 

[sphelps]

The trailer should be blue or white so it doesn't clash with the boat?

Can the TM be rotated without hitting the hull? It looks tight.

The TM shaft needs to be longer or rework the mount so the TM drops down. The shaft looks like it's aluminum. If it's not an odd size, replace it with a longer one.

That’s it the shaft is to short ..
I guess it was made to clamp to the rail maybe? That would have dropped the height enough possibly.
Buck , yep same color as the Tee Née . I wanted to do some touch up on the tee née so I just got the same paint ..

 

[jbcurt00]

Looking good Sam, nice work

 

[sphelps]

Started the Gluvit process .. 1 coat on today on the seams and rivet's and another one tomorrow if I don't have to work late .. Stuff is a little runny ..

 

[jbcurt00]

Started the Gluvit process...
....Stuff is a little runny ..

Under statement @ runny

 

[sphelps]

Gluvit done . Now its back in the air conditioned garage ..
In case you didn't know its a bit hot and muggy down here .. LOL!
Been contemplating how I'm gunna do the seat compartments and such ..
So ? for the tin boat guys . Once the transom is sealed /epoxied / or varnished , or painted .. Should it be glued on for final installation ?
5200? Epoxy ? Or just bolt it up ? Its my first tin boat transom installation so I hope to do it somewhat correctly hopefully ..