October 2002
Over the summer not much happened on the boat as Mike and Larry went real boat racing with the U-9 Jones Racing.
In the fall, the aluminum skin was placed on the bottom (2024-T4). This was done differently than the original, but will provide a much stronger boat. Originally the aluminum was laminated onto the wood before the wood was placed on the boat. Then these panels were glued on and held together at the joints by butt-blocks. For the restoration the wood was put on first, and the panels scarfed together. Then the aluminum was glued on, and split at a different location. This will help with the structural integrity of the boat.
Also, early in the fall the sponson frames started going on the boat. The original sponsons were so badly rotten that they could not be used. However, the original frames were used as patterns, and much care was taken to make sure the sponsons are exactly as they were in 1965. The aluminum frames have been installed at the back of the sponsons, per the fix by Ron Jones, which gave the boat its familiar, and very unique, looking sponsons.
The construction of the sponsons was changed slightly to make them stronger. In the same way that the frames in the main hull were supported with angle instead of wood blocks, the same thing has been done with the sponsons. This will provide for a more structurally sound boat.
Read MoreIn the fall, the aluminum skin was placed on the bottom (2024-T4). This was done differently than the original, but will provide a much stronger boat. Originally the aluminum was laminated onto the wood before the wood was placed on the boat. Then these panels were glued on and held together at the joints by butt-blocks. For the restoration the wood was put on first, and the panels scarfed together. Then the aluminum was glued on, and split at a different location. This will help with the structural integrity of the boat.
Also, early in the fall the sponson frames started going on the boat. The original sponsons were so badly rotten that they could not be used. However, the original frames were used as patterns, and much care was taken to make sure the sponsons are exactly as they were in 1965. The aluminum frames have been installed at the back of the sponsons, per the fix by Ron Jones, which gave the boat its familiar, and very unique, looking sponsons.
The construction of the sponsons was changed slightly to make them stronger. In the same way that the frames in the main hull were supported with angle instead of wood blocks, the same thing has been done with the sponsons. This will provide for a more structurally sound boat.
