Recent content by Bob La Londe

A true jon boat with a flat bottom runs air down the entire length of the bottom of the hull. A neat effect of that is in a light chop they tend to make a sizzling noise and run faster on a partial cushion of air. However, jets hate air. It is possible that being an inch below the transom may...

The base metal becomes softer. It is annealed by the heat of the weld process in the HAZ (heat affected zone).

FYI: My experience is that the hardness of 5052 goes away around the weld. Ie: the metal is softer, but the weld itself is plenty strong. The metal isn't "weaker" Its just softer. 144in (12ft) length or full coil. Trucking from Louisiana would cost more than the material. From my...

First off I want to ask you all to remember Jim Isaac (rest in piece) for a moment. He's the one who first introduced me to this site some years ago. He was a proud tin boat owner and regular on my fishing forums. Ok... Here is the setup and the question. I want to build a medium to...

Well, after much more research then I've done in the past I did find a couple marine extrusions that I might be able to order. The ones I found were 6061 though. Not 5052. It's a freshwater rig so 6061 would probably be just fine, but I really have this bug that I want to keep everything 5052 or...

If you are talking about Muggy-Weld, Durafix, or one of the other low melt alloy rods they are fine for patching a hole, but I would not use them to fix any kind of stress crack. That being said I have never found them to be that easy to use even following their instructions scrupulously. Some...

I tacked on some aluminum sheet to my regular aluminum order yesterday. Truck comes on the 15th. Probably won't do anything with it for a while, but I had some extra cash after the holidays so I figured to get it while I can.

Supposedly marine grade "really" has no voids. Not so for exterior. If you don't hit a void with your bolt holes its probably fine, but there is a difference.

I have thought about flotation pods, but for a different reason. Primarily for displacement at rest. Well, maybe for a different reason. Different thought process, but maybe a difference without a distinction. Usually pods are added to boats to offset motor weight and/or to offset the loss...

Stringers. Ribs go on the inside.

Aluminum sheet: I think often people buy aluminum sheets from their local metal vendor at local metal vendor prices (fairly high usually) due to its size and trucking costs. It might be worth checking to see if there is a bigger aluminum vendor that does deliveries in your city or town. They...

I noticed Fastenal was listed for stainless. They have some that's for sure, but since they went no cash allowed and accounts only I haven't been in there. I do check their website for things from time to time, but anything i need right now is never in my local store. I found atleast over the...

I notice in the pinned materials thread that the link for diamond plate in the first link goes to 3003. Is everybody settling for 3003 in their tread plate applications? I did find some 5052 tread plate in one of my searches, but 1/4" (6.35mm) was the thinnest they listed. (To heavy for...

Jim Isaac (Rest in Peace) mentioned this site a long time ago. He used to be a regular on my fishing forums. Thought I'd stop by and give it a whirl finally. This board doesn't really seem like the right place for this, but I didn't see one that seemed better. If there is please move my post...