Silly idea of the day - pop riveted boat building ?

[langy]

Could you post were to get it and a cost please? Am looking for something like this for a job

I get it from the USA but 3M make a similar version

 

[Kent]

That explains why I can only find USA distributers (the ones I find don't ship to UK presently). What is the 3m product? I want to bond Ali sheet to a m/s galvanised framework btw

 

[langy]

I think its called panel bond, there are a few flavours for different materials

 

[langy]

Forgot to say Newbury paints stock the Fusor 127 but thats only for Aluminium to GRP

 

[KemppiFrog]

We have a 13ft skiff that is ally, made by Chrysler, but it is solid rivited with mastic in the lap. Ally boats highly prized by cruising sailers, but welded and need some care about electrolosys.
Google 'Shanty Boats' for designs of small canal house boats. Two that come to mind are Escargot and Lisa B Goode. Both designed for plywood.
Since you only need a converted air chisel (as above, I have done that too, for aircraft work) solid rivits would work out much cheaper, just need access from both sides. Rebuilding the tail assembly of a Piper Twin Commanche, we luckily had a very small apprentice that I could send down inside the fuselarge to hold the dolly.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Wonder it you could use Tek screws (only joking)
Seen common sense and forgetting the idea of alloy sheet with blind rivets. There again folded galv sheet with solid rivets ............

 

[TechnicAl]

I used to visit E.V.Waddingtons in Swinton. I think they are the last working barge company. They had a "dry dock" where they repaired damaged barges........not narrowboats. They used to get them with big holes in the side. I would be careful in an 8 feet Ally Box.

Put EV Waddington in Google Earth and you can see it.......looks like a Barge graveyard

 

[Hitch]

Used to use a lot of Sikaflex 291 for building CIT vehicles.
Providing the ally was keyed and cleaned properly it was virtually impossible to separate panels bonded with any decent amount on them.

The other adhesive we used widely for aluminium was 3M scotchweld, can't remember which type. Sounds like it may be what you are thinking of Langy?

 

[KemppiFrog]

I was considering a US kit to build a little aluminium light aircraft. Most of it was époxy glued. The industry has been doing it for a couple of décades. And that kit was on sale in 1990

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Full sized aluminium narrowboat !
http://livingonanarrowboat.co.uk/blogs/on-cloud-wine/building-an-aluminium-narrowboat-part-1/

 

[Kent]

will it make you think twice if I post pictures of 10x 50 M/S rubbing strakes all mangled up from minor contacts?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

will it make you think twice if I post pictures of 10x 50 M/S rubbing strakes all mangled up from minor contacts?

Thanks but as I've already said I've gone off the idea However I can't see the damage caused by clumsy people being any worse than would be inflicted on a fibreglass or timber boats.

 

[Kent]

I don't see such things along the Leeds Liverpool. Its mainly the preserve of the Narrowboat 28ft? and then the Wide beam (the latter seems to be on the rise due to so many living full time on them). Did you know you can buy a barge in bits from Poland and then just weld it up here? My mate and customer is thinking of doing this with a new development and dry dock, I am told there is quite a wait if you want one and the customer normally expects to pay quite a large amount up front and wait months before they get their barge. Must admit they do little for me personally, though if the other choice was a decrepit old tiny terrace house on a mill town back street I do see some appeal then if it was the same or less. I mean to move house (quite literally) you just crank up the engine and moor up elsewere

 

[moose]

Just to add there have been Ali narrowboats for a few years the company expanded into wide beam dutch shape craft, but believe they have stopped making wide beams, company were called http://www.seaotterboats.co.uk/our-boats.html seem think they went into liquidation, but someone started again, my boat is welded steel!

The narrow boats being made off Ali and having the means of adding water to the hull to make it ballast they made these boats for trailering was upto 40 foot?? (I think, might be Bo**cks was it 30ft????), but whichever size they went up to you could tow with a car fitted with hydraulic brakes and at the time you could tow up to 4 ton (3 1/2ton max on over run brakes) but now the change in the licence not sure they still can even have it via granddad rights???

Cost of a steel boat is about £120 per foot complete, not sure many boats are coming over from Poland now.

 

[Kent]

Just to add there have been Ali narrowboats for a few years the company expanded into wide beam dutch shape craft, but believe they have stopped making wide beams, company were called http://www.seaotterboats.co.uk/our-boats.html seem think they went into liquidation, but someone started again, my boat is welded steel!

The narrow boats being made off Ali and having the means of adding water to the hull to make it ballast they made these boats for trailering was upto 40 foot?? (I think, might be Bo**cks was it 30ft????), but whichever size they went up to you could tow with a car fitted with hydraulic brakes and at the time you could tow up to 4 ton (3 1/2ton max on over run brakes) but now the change in the licence not sure they still can even have it via granddad rights???

Cost of a steel boat is about £120 per foot complete, not sure many boats are coming over from Poland now.

No they are not its just all the plates, pre-cut and bent apparently.