Thebuffalo is back

[Big_Kev]

With the tanks on the sides may make it a little less stable when side on to the chop and may cause the buffalo to buck a bit.
The lower and closer to the center for the weight the better.
I would run the esky trunk at the back and install the battery in one of the plastic boxes for the application inside the trunk.
Access to the back corners is important when fighting a big fish so keep this in mind.
Perhaps the bait tank can be located out from the transome.
Might be best if you can get her going enough to put her in the water and shift some weight around and make her sit nicely at rest.
Cheers Kev.

[Thebuffalo]

Blaze, I hope you know what you have got yourself into. I don't really mind you bagging me I am pretty thick skinned, it's good to see that someone else is enjoying my misery. It's relly a labour of love, I have just found out I have two weeks off in april so the incentive is really ther to have her finished for the start of the dry season. If only the rain will stop.... I will keep an eye on your posts with interest and will be sure to add me 5c worth.

regards

Thebuffalo

[Thebuffalo]

Kev, I was hoping that would not be the case (rocking with the rollers etc) Do you think it will make much of a difference if I place the fuel tanks down the middle. I don't really want to go under the floor as I wil have to get the angle grinder out again and I was hoping that I would be past that.
The other thing is I was thinking that I was startign to get a bit too much weight over the arse and I didn't want to clutter up the stern with the trunk (for the resons you mentioned).
Worst case is that everything will be moveable and I was intending to mave stuff around once I get her into the water..... Get it in the water.....the answer is there I suppose.

[Big_Kev]

If you can't get that weight under the floor put it in the center and make it a seat. Run the breather under the floor and back up the side to keep the fuel tank sealed.
I wouldn't worry about esky weight to much. As when its full you can take it steady coming home with a grin.
But if you can get her on the water and sort out the weight it will be best.
You want her to sit down in the bum just a touch.
Some boats you see are that low in the arse they look like they will take water over the transome in a slight chop.
With the 200 on the back you should not have a problem pushing her along.
Cheers Kev.

[Big_Kev]

If you can't get that weight under the floor put it in the center and make it a seat. Run the breather under the floor and back up the side to keep the fuel tank sealed.
I wouldn't worry about esky weight to much. As when its full you can take it steady coming home with a grin.
But if you can get her on the water and sort out the weight it will be best.
You want her to sit down in the bum just a touch.
Some boats you see are that low in the arse they look like they will take water over the transome in a slight chop.
With the 200 on the back you should not have a problem pushing her along.
Cheers Kev.

[blaze]

Hi Buffalo
All the boats I have had over the years have all had to have some sorta rebuild (apart from one), I enjoy the challenge and in the end you get what you want (as you are well aware).
Just another reason not to put your fuel under the floors is IF you ever need to remove them (could blow someone up), if they were under then you would need to make bolt on inspection hatches. I would have some concern if they were on either side without a crossover pipe
Now then, thats been no help at all (have days like that)
cheers
blaze

[blaze]

Had to go hunting for a pic
in the drawing are you talking about putting the tank in under the gunnel (long narrow tanks)
Thought I had better bring the picture foward too
cheers
blaze

[Thebuffalo]

Oh she looks a little different now Blaze, almost attractive , The dimensions of the tanks are as follows, too the mm:

1425 long, 345 high, base is 430 across the top and 285 across the bottom, does that make sense? and baffled of course.

Basically what I am trying to acheive is a tank that will follow the angle of the side of the boat but be square along the front and can be used as a seat.

I did think of making a long flat tank for either side but I already had the alloy one so that is what I am using. I was hoping that because of the weight of the boat this setup would not worry it too much.

I am not putting a sealed floor in it so access under the floor will not be a problem. I couldn't bring myself to seal the floor even though it would work well. I have this thing about managing the corrosion as time goes by.

And yes I will be putting in a crossover pipe, any ideas on what diameter?

Kev I will try this way first and if it doesn't work I will start drinking xxxx, hows that One reason why it may work is where the v of the hull reaches the sides there is a very prominent flat section? Am I making sense? The boat would always have a tendancy to roll to the side when the weight is shifted but would not go past a certain point. I am hoping as I will be putting a fair bit more weight into it that this will make it sit down into the water a little more.... Time will tell. Day off tomorrow, will finish the prepping for the paint, and then get you blokes to do a bloody rain dance over your way and take all of this weather over there Good idea
Cheers, by the way Kev I drink XXXX anyway
Blaze I couldn't get the picture of your new boat to open last night, only the ones of the transom came up.

Thebuffalo.

[blaze]

Hi Buffalo
How long is the pod, looks to stick out about a meter, hows the fibaglassing and painting going
we are all hoping for good weather for the next 4 days (being generous and giving you a extra day
cheers
blaze

[Big_Kev]

Keep up the good work Buff and don't stop.
We will do a rain dance for you, I even washed the work truck so its bound to rain now.
Cheers and beers Kev.

[Thebuffalo]

Blaze the pod sticks out 690mm and is 900mm wide. Looks a bit dicky naked but when that 200 merc goes on it will cover her fat arse. Buffalo's are supposed to have big arse's you know.

Kev there is a bloody cyclone over in the west, probably because of your rain dances. I suggest you stop because you are making the depressions form in western oz and they have to come via me to get to you lot.

I am ready to paint the inside, not just a little bit, the whole bloody lot. I might start sanding down the outside now and hopefully by the time I am finished that i can do the lot. The rain is good for the Barra you know. Not that I'm a Barra fisherman I prefer the snapper and the mac's and the GT's.......bloody rain. ???

I haven't fiberglassed anything yet..... I'm psyching myself up for it, had a bit of a hiccup with my time management.

Must be down to three weeks by now Kev?

[Big_Kev]

If my calculations are correct Buff I have it at one week and and five days.
But I will give you all the time you want cause with the paint you are better off not to rush it or it will always look like shit.
Can't wait to see the big girl on the water.
You will need to track down a set of horns for her since you have some spare time on your hands with the rain.
Cheers Kev.

[Thebuffalo]

Kev to be honest I don't care if the paint looks like shit, I am more concerned that it will lift and the Buffalo will rust her little guts out.

OK I do care but I am more worried about the rust

[NQCairns]

Hi Buffalo, I just twigged that your boat is actually a steel (mild steel) boat when you mentioned rust instead of corrosion, am I right? I thought you were just replacing the word steel for metal as in ally.
Jumping ahead, that is one unique rig you have, do you know what it weighs? or skin thickness?. Would love to see some pics of how it is put together some time. The wieight penalty couldnt be that much more than ally I guess, something like 20 or 30% due to less overall volume of metal?

I have been tossing up the idea of a steel pod for a while now, but dont trust my engineering skills enough to get it lightest and strongest if that makes sense. I have an ally one to go on but it is more suited to small twin o/bs than one large one, any idea how thick your pod skin is??
Thanks for the BLA tip lots of boat stuff there to drool over.nq

[Thebuffalo]

NQ the weight of the boat naked....is 1400kg. The length of it is 6.8 m from the bow to the end of the pod without the motor. I am guessing she will be two ton all up conservatively when I am finished. As far as thicknesses go they vary depenting on the part of the boat. All of the ribs etc are 3mm minimum thickness right through, some are thicker. transom is 3mm, pod is 1.5 approx on the top but sides are a bit thicker so is the back, I don't know how much but not 3mm. There are sections welded inside as supports in the corners etc which are 2mm.
The bloke who built this boat had the pod set up as a sealed unit, the drain went through it to the bungs but it could not be accessed. I got the angle grinder to it and now have a hole big enough to fit my boof head in there It was in suprisingly good condition considering.
I like the steel, I can get in there with my mig welder and repair or modify at my leisure. There are a few patches in her gut which I have done with checkerplate.
I think that the weight comparison for a glass boat would be similar, alloy would be a different story I would think.
Rust is not really a problem it's just that I am a bit of a perfectionist when I come to it. The hull has been in the weather for five years since the last time I had it in the water and the rust that did come through was minimal. It was an easy fix. I will never let it get that bad again though.
Hope this helps, I will post some pics tomorrow if I can scam dads camera, I have been promising them for a while.

Thebuffalo.