1981 Springbok 18' Restoration/Renovation

S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Ifishmuskie2 said:
Looks great. I’m mounting a new FF and it’s going to be right in front of me when I’m driving.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I look forward to the day where I’m mounting my electronics and the fabrication and building portion is done.
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Just finished the major part of my consoles. Drove solid rivets into the sheets and angle aluminum frame, and welded all of the seams together. Only have a few more little things to do with making them all appear smooth and then all that’s left is to mark out the console dashboards.
IMG_3166.jpegIMG_3167.jpeg
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Excuse my welds, I had reached out on this aluminum tig group asking some questions and already told they were dogsh*t lol. I’m leaving the welds around the edges to keep the material there for strength. I started plug welding all the solid rivets and then made the surface flush to remove the appearance of having rivets. Hoping it looks like a fully welded console without rivets showing.
IMG_3174.jpegIMG_3175.jpeg
 
M

MikeSchinlaub

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 14, 2025
Messages
715
Dude, those look great. You want bad welds? Here's what I did to my rocker panel, one of my first times welding, and I forgot to turn on the gas for most of it.
20231227_115350.jpg

20231228_114257.jpg
 
eggs712

eggs712

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
369
Those welds will hold just fine from what I see. Most aluminum welds crack from the crater being underfilled and/or work hardening from repeated stress.
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
eggs712 said:
Those welds will hold just fine from what I see. Most aluminum welds crack from the crater being underfilled and/or work hardening from repeated stress.
Click to expand...
thanks, definitely no underfilling going on with my unsteady hands. Been trying to figure out a more consistent filler rod feed technique but it doesnt always work lol
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Dashboards cut, looking for some insight/advice if anyone has any answers here. At first I planned to install screws from behind the wood and using specifically sized ones to not come all the way through, essentially hiding the fasteners. I used 1/2” marine ply for the wood, I didn’t know if some adhesive around the edges with adequate fasteners would do the trick or if I’m better off using blind rivets to hold them in. Yes the rivets would show from the front but it also would hold them on much more securely.

The passenger side has the same shape except I’ll be using a piano hinge to create an opening glovebox essentially to create a storage space.
IMG_3193.jpeg
 
M

MikeSchinlaub

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 14, 2025
Messages
715
Assuming the wood will be wrapped before fastening in place, out of those options I would use screws from the back.

Another option, machine screws with finish washers from the front, nuts and washers in the back. Stronger connection and they wont come loose as the wood swells/shrinks or eventually rots.
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Working on cleaning my garage out a bit with the stretch of nice weather we’ve got here. I found my muffs so I thought I’d fire up my outboard to let it run as it’s a 93’ two stroke.
If anyone knows how to upload a video please share as I’d like to post the video of it. The motor fired up first turn of the key with no troubles whatsoever. The sound and smell of a two stroke will always be my favourite. Can’t wait to finish up the interior of my boat so I can paint it and finally hang this merc on the back.
 
S

SlipperyOar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
158
Got some side panels made up today. Needed something to cover up the sides of the hull and also give me a spot to mount my motor controls. Used aluminum sheets and a brake form them. I had to cut the top and bottom tabs off and weld them back on since my brake won’t make the bends with the two side bends in the piece.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3328.jpeg
    IMG_3328.jpeg
    386.1 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_3330.jpeg
    IMG_3330.jpeg
    363.4 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_3331.jpeg
    IMG_3331.jpeg
    302.6 KB · Views: 3
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top