Need a dog with a Tig welder

Grady252 · 02-04-2007, 01:24 PM

Dogs..... I have a couple of small cracks on my aluminum tube frame for my hard top. When the boat was getting new motors installed the shop found about 3 small cracks. They have a wire feed, but they felt it would be better to shield the fiberglass, and use a tig.

I would be happy to pay or...... even better if a dog has a welder and would like to trade for fishing time.....send PM if interested.

Onokai · 02-04-2007, 02:35 PM

I am not a tig guy but had some overhead tig weilding done on my t-top alum frame and can offer some advice.
The most important thing is to cover a huge area with heavy blankets for the sparks will wreck havoc on your fiberglass. Most shops have a blanket for the area around the wield but you need to cover alot more area than that
also make sure you have a guy who knows his stuff. Your boat frame is nowhere for a newbie. Hope this helps, Mark

Grady252 · 02-04-2007, 03:04 PM

Thanks Mark!

I definitely want someone who has experience. The cracks are very small, I could prbably get by without fixing them, but I know they are there so it will bother me. I will take aluminum pipe and cut it in half and crate a gusset to be welded to cove the crack and strengthen the entire frame. I was hoping if someone had a tig, they also had experience.

Hoghunter · 02-04-2007, 06:47 PM

One more thought is that Grady runs the wires for electronics and lights through the overhead tubes. Make sure there aren't any in the tube you plan to weld on or they'll melt.

Nalu · 02-04-2007, 06:55 PM

I have the sme issue. One small crack on each side. I was planning on having a gusset placed on each side like newer hard top frames have.

I noticed the cracks after a tow with the life raft still mounted up top. I think the road vibrations did it.

Found the name of a decent guy in Portland, and planning to check with him soon. I'll let you know. Anyone else interested, let me know, as I would be willing to swap a trip for decent work.

BTW- Grady252- Saw your boat in the storage lot behind Ferg. Motors look gret!

Onokai · 02-04-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoghunter

One more thought is that Grady runs the wires for electronics and lights through the overhead tubes. Make sure there aren't any in the tube you plan to weld on or they'll melt.

This is true on my whaler t-top as well wires are in 1/2 the tubes. You'll need to make sure to remove them or see that they are clean of wires.I think the gusset is the way to go. Mark

KeyWest · 02-04-2007, 07:35 PM

<Laugh> You guys have got to be kidding - minor cracks

I have mine gussetted and welded about once a month during tuna season. Cracks develop where ever it isn't gussetted. I'm thinking pretty soon the whole T-Top will be gussetted from head to toe.

I use J&H boat works in Astoria - they are top notch! I give them an idea and when I pick the boat up - it exceeds my expectations by a long measure.

I recently had an issue with a broken motor mount and asked if they could reinfoce the transom with stainless plate. I get the boat back after 5 days and the stern is wrapped with 1/4" plate SS, the inside is 1/4" ss angle, the motor mounts are upsized from 3/8" bolts to 7/16" bolts, etc.

These guys are good (and they are tuna fisherman to boot)! As a precaution, I always remove all electronics before dropping off the boat.

HOGGEMIN · 02-04-2007, 08:13 PM

Try PMing Robin (Wetfly) he has been tig welding up some awsome rocket launchers and proably can get it done reasonable.

Onokai · 02-04-2007, 09:25 PM

Dean I've been meaning to ask about the t-top supplied with the Key West hull. with all the cracking going on is a faulty design or do you only know one speed??? Or is your motor 100 horsepower over hull rating??
I just realized you may be the wrong one to ask-
just kidding. Mark

Something Good · 02-04-2007, 09:35 PM

Dean insists on being the first one to the tuna grounds every time. I think he keeps it under 60 when the swells get over 8' at 8 seconds unless he's running late.

Grady252 · 02-05-2007, 07:04 AM

Robin sent me a PM, so I will connect with him....

Thanks for the Heads up about the wiring... It is very true and would have forgotten. May have to weld an inch at a time and let it cool??

Nalu, I think my cracks are combination from pounding in the gulf of Texas, and also the 2500 miles at 70MPH all the way back from Texas when I went to get it.

As yet un-named · 02-05-2007, 09:09 AM

Make sure and have whoever does it drill a small hole at the end of the cracks before they weld it up.