Posts by Don Paul

What a great into, you are with good people who are passionate about mother ocean and skindiving.

All the best, Don Paul

The grouper is pissed he didn't get a credit.;) but happy he didn't get the shaft.

Cheers, Don

Cool, that is similar to what will be the radar/gun rack on mine, I'm also playing with the idea of having the barrels vertical.

Cheers, Don

Wow! your the man. I lost my Port Supply privileges ten years ago when I wasn't buying enough.
I'll PM you before I get the GPS/fishfinder combo, and my safety items.You have a spot aboard if you like after sea trials.:)
Yeah I'm using old Mil items to keep the cost down, that and it keeps the boat less ''yachty'.'

Cheers, Don

I was just horsing around with the Ti surf board fin, but I'll put a a kelp cutter edge on the outdrive before any night crossings.

Cheers, Don

Good looking marker Danny boy.

Cheers, Don

Some 3/16 TA7 grade Titanium gets cut and shaped for the keel/transom skid plate and kelp cutter. I don't like to stop and reverse my motor at night on a island crossing if I run over a paddy, sometimes you can't hear a big wave cresting off your bow in the dark. I like to keep forward speed governed by the sea state until I get to the island, or home port. The diamond plate is coming off this weekend to make sure there are no hidden surprises underneath. Expect what you inspect is something I live by.

Cheers, Don

Epic report one of my all time favorite spots. So stoked to hear that BF were spotted so early in the year. Great you all got sightings mate. Those are real quality tail too.

Cheers, Don

Who would have thought a fart gun would draw 100,000.00 views.:@
More to come after I complete a gun rack.;)
You can find it here....http://spearfishing.world/boats/4967-adventures-thumper.html

All the best, Don

Quote from LunkerBuster

Nice boxer. I think all us horn dogs would have rather seen her kitty;)

Nice one but I value my life... don't want to end up like that Boxer with fresh stitches from having his balls cut off.:@

Cheers, Don

Quote from 75th

What? So how'd all that turn out? How 'bout an update, Don?

:wantpics:

I got a picture of her puppy.

Cheers, Don

Quote from Hookinfish

A friend of mine was sanding his fiber glass boat and in Hawaii wearing a suit makes for a very hot day. He instead would rub baby powder all over his exposed skin and then did the sanding work. That prevented the glass from embedding into his pores which cause the itch. Try it out next time.

I'll just itch, baby powder reminds me of a cop that used to pound on me when I was a kid back East.
Glad we just got beat in those days and not shot twenty times.

Sorry ...on the second Fat Martini. and my hot neighbor and my GF are on the 2nd bottle of Merlo. See ya...

Cheers, Don

Thanks Davis, Dillon's team made to 2nd place in the Championships, next year they want him to pitch, so I'm working with him until Winter Ball starts.

Not much done tonight, mocked up some bits that will get glassed in brackets. My SMG double fits like a glove.( we all need a second shot at times);) The old Mil radio box will get powder coated and have my orange smoke and aerial flares along with first aid kit.

Fab'ed a base for the pull latches, hope to have mock up completed this weekend so I can sand the console and
paint it matt black Imron. Decided against the white console....looks like a Five -O rig.

Looking for a Tri Lens radar reflector to put on the arch I'm building if you know of any.

God I itch....did tell ya I hate composites.;)

Cheers, Don

Welcome mate.

Cheers, Don

The glue is real fun:@ I'm going to put in a mooring up at the place with the cliff.;) My old spot down here is overrun with pole spears and guys buzzing da kelp.:@ This MPLA thing sucks.

Cheers, Don

Too cold and damp for any more glue tonight so I started measuring my Ross VHF and Dual digital media receiver for location inside the console hatch opening. The primary VHF (waterproof) will be mounted flush on the on the port side of the console top.
The Blue Sea panel is rated lp67, which is temporary immersion for 30 min.I like the flush switch on a boat that will get hammered.
Cheers, Don

One of the first things I did was to remove the inflatable keel by using a hot air gun to soften the glue at the attachment pads. A pressure of 240 mbar (3.4PSI) and a soapy bath revealed mini bubbles (leakage) at both ends. Even though it would stay hard for a day. I hate shite that leaks.

The keel repair took 6 hrs with un-gluing both ends, grinding away every trace of old glue, prep and re-gluing the ends and overlaps. I found one small pin hole with the soap that I double patched.

This week I over pressured the keel until the over presure valves opened (5 PSI app) and gave it a soapy water test. No Bubbles No Troubles.

Cheers, Don

Thanks mate..... on to the inflatable keel.

Cheers, Don

If you have a large patch or one with high and low spots you can use wax paper to position the patch and gradually pull it way from the work as you apply firm pressure to the area. If you just press it with you fingers or hand you will have a weak glue joint.

Most used inflatable boats have poorly applied patches with thick old glue the the previous owner never prepped correctly. I use a wood block and press the edge firmly into the work, starting at the center and working out any trapped air or thick glue to the outer edge. Pro shops use a metal roller to do this opp. On areas under the hull it's a good idea to bevel the leading edge to help preventing lifting from water pressure at speed. Go by the book on repairs or take the boat to a reputable shop.

A little clean up with a acetone soaked rag and it's time for the next one. This repair took me about 47min to carry out.
Prep 15min.
mix two glue batches 6min.
Glue flash time x 2 20min.
Clean up 5min.

Cheers, Don

Here under the hull we can see worn hypalon fabric under the thrust board. I could have coated over the tan exposed threads with liquid rubber, but I will install a sacrificial wear patch of hypalon to cover the beginning damage and shield the high wear spot. This and the keel are wear areas on beach landings.

Circle the area to be prepped and glued, cut out and round corners of patch to lessen corner peel back.

Wipe the area with Toluene or acetone, (hard to get toluene in Cali) I used acetone.

Sand both mating surfaces with 80grid paper.

Wipe again with acetone on a paper towel. Rags may be contaminated with fabric softener and effect the glue bond....yeah keep your finger tips off the glue surface.

Follow the instructions on the can of the hypalon glue you use ...Weaver, Staybond,PolyMarine, ext. I wrap the brush in tin foil to and cover glue pot to reduce thinner evaporation between coats.

I laid down two thin coats 10 min apart with a trimmed paint brush.

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