1/8 scale Apache 47' design and build

[chrispellegrino]

I am definitely going to try using my 1finity for some of the machining on the outdrives.

Finally got the hull mold plug assembled. Sanded the seams and then put a coat of resin on it to seal it. MDF does NOT sand well. Next is to do a lot of sanding, maybe a little more resin, more sanding, then gel coat, then more sanding and buffing. I'm taking a risk with hoping the plug stays together when I pull the mold off. Each layer is fully glued and screwed together except for the very last keel pieces (only glue), so I think it should be fine.



I did finally stumble across some dimensions for the outdrives. Mine are too big. I thought they looked big. I don't know if I can really make them any smaller and hold any useful power though. I think I'll go ahead with the current size.

This is what they're looking like now.



You can see I've also barely started the trim tabs (one side - the other is just a mirror of it). I have to put the drives up that high due to their size and still be able to keep the props near the surface.


Couldn't resist starting a trailer either. I was going to make it a goose neck but there were and are a lot of trailers that aren't. I'm going to have to mold my own tires from polyurethane. Can't find 1/8 scale rubber tires like this. Also going to have to make my own beams for the trailer out of sheet metal. I can only find plastic beams or brass which is way too thin.

 

[Mike Bontoft]

Very nice! Just be careful of the crease down the side , it's very subtle but she'll never look quite right if it's not correct. Will help to get some color on it soon I think. If you have access to a 3D printer you could print up some guides, same thing for the crown on the deck. I found them very handy on the Miss Severn build.
The 70s trailers were made by a company called Target. Manufactured from steel channel. Not sure when they stopped being used.
Looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

[chrispellegrino]

Wow your hull came out really nice. I did miss that crease down the sides at first but added it in early on. I went back and forth between CAD and photos at various angles to get it as close as I could. I also missed the crown on the deck at first but have it now. I'm sure that's not quite right but it seems close.
I do have photos of the Target trailer that Lorne Liebel either had or has Kramer's 47' boat on. I've seen so many other trailers that are I-beam I'm not sure if I should make it channel or I-beam. It does appear that Dry Martini's trailer is channel. After I lay up the first hull, if things are far enough off to bug me I'll probably make another.
The trim on those outdrives sure looks extreme. I've seen another boat with the prop axis pointing up quite a bit like that. Does it really vary that much depending on sea state? I didn't think they were able to trim so far in that direction.

 

[ACTION JACKSON]

Everything looks really awesome. Can't wait till you pull the first boat out. How long is that dry martini boat I guess I could ask the guy that has it. Are you building your own motor from ground up