Ian9525

Ian9525 · 29 January 2017, 07:31

Hi all, New to RIBnet... I have just bought a 4.6m ally RIB by Highfield and would like to fit an A frame, I have tried the Highfield Company and been unable to get one,( A whole other story !! ) does anyone know of a good tube bender/welder in the Midlands who may be able to fabricate one for me..
Regards... Ian

breezeblock · 29 January 2017, 08:54

have you tried a different dealer bosuns locker have a new 460 in stock with one on it its been in stock for years

Ian9525 · 29 January 2017, 10:12

I have tried all the dealers that are shown on the Highfield website, none of them were even able to give me an answer that sounded like they were "On the same Hym sheet".. They are all controlled by one person in Southampton, he works for Hendy Group that import these boats.. thanks for the heads up.. I will ring them in the morning and try to buy it !! Watch this space.

ShinyShoe · 29 January 2017, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian9525

does anyone know of a good tube bender/welder in the Midlands who may be able to fabricate one for me..

I think the company "Marine Fabrications Ltd" have been mentioned here before...

Now - if its an Ali boat should the A be Ali or Stainless? What happens with corrosion when the two meet?

jeffstevens763@g · 29 January 2017, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

I think the company "Marine Fabrications Ltd" have been mentioned here before...

Now - if its an Ali boat should the A be Ali or Stainless? What happens with corrosion when the two meet?

Will be alright if he puts a nylon gasket / washers on and coat the bolts with sikaflex to insulate from the transom

beamishken · 29 January 2017, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

I think the company "Marine Fabrications Ltd" have been mentioned here before...

Now - if its an Ali boat should the A be Ali or Stainless? What happens with corrosion when the two meet?

I'd suspect that's why Highfield won't supply,even the wrong grade ally can cause corrosion issues while in theory you can use insulating materials to keep the two separate in practice it's going to be quite hard to keep the two insulated and fully secure
Maybe someone needs to design a composite one

breezeblock · 29 January 2017, 11:24

would it work if you fitted an anode would that make any difference

ShinyShoe · 29 January 2017, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezeblock

would it work if you fitted an anode would that make any difference

Anode on the A Frame would need to be in water to create a circuit would it not?

I've never pondered how they mount the engines before either...

Composite A Frame on an Ali Boat... its like an inversion of the normal boating paradigm -- composite hull with metal frame!

jeffstevens763@g · 29 January 2017, 11:52

yea anode no good unless imersed in the ogin.
we use stailess bolts a lot in the marine industry and nylon washers prevent the circuit between the two disimler metals bolts tighten up ok best with nylock nuts you can buy plastic sheet materials from direct plastics.

try sea screw for an A frame they have adjusable ones that might work

treerat · 29 January 2017, 16:32

Speak to Dave down at Sea Swift boats, he had a number of A frames that would be suitable last time I was down there as they were coated.

Contact | SeaSwift Boats

matt h · 29 January 2017, 19:02

Mark Littler is the chap at Marine fabrications..Queens Drive Industrial Est
Queens Drive
Chasetown
Burntwood
Staffordshire
WS7 4QF

Telephone: - 01543 670033
FAX: - 01543 670044
E-mail
Customer Support: sales@marinefabrications.co.uk

ShinyShoe · 29 January 2017, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

we use stailess bolts a lot in the marine industry and nylon washers prevent the circuit between the two disimler metals bolts tighten up ok best with nylock nuts you can buy plastic sheet materials from direct plastics.

Mmm?

Presumably there is still contact between the two metals, the nylon washer doesn't stop conduction through the bolt??

The only solution I can see to avoid that would be:

Object to bolt down - Nylon washer - oversized hole lined with a non-conductive liner - e.g.plastic tube - Nylone washer - Nut

Pikey Dave · 29 January 2017, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Mmm?

Presumably there is still contact between the two metals, the nylon washer doesn't stop conduction through the bolt??

The only solution I can see to avoid that would be:

Object to bolt down - Nylon washer - oversized hole lined with a non-conductive liner - e.g.plastic tube - Nylone washer - Nut

It's called a top hat washer. I still wouldn't be comfortable fitting a stainless a frame to an ally hull. Even with isolating washers there will be corrosion.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=to...TuZBEEQgjYI4gI

Ian9525 · 30 January 2017, 06:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by breezeblock

would it work if you fitted an anode would that make any difference

Hi Breezeblock... had a look at Bosuns Locker, they do have a boat like mine but the A frame is the type with the bench incorporated , I need one without the bench, I have e-mailed them with details of what I am looking for so you never know...

Ian9525 · 30 January 2017, 06:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

I'd suspect that's why Highfield won't supply,even the wrong grade ally can cause corrosion issues while in theory you can use insulating materials to keep the two separate in practice it's going to be quite hard to keep the two insulated and fully secure
Maybe someone needs to design a composite one

Highfield will supply one I am told,(£500) but they want me to take the boat to them for fitting, a round trip of more than 400 miles, they tell me they can be fiddly to fit, there are 12 drilled and tapped holes in the boat that already have the stainless bolts in them, easy as Pie, when I asked them to send me the frame I was completely ignored, more than once, so I tried other Highfield dealers around the country and was largely ignored or referred back to the main man, Harrison, in Southampton... The boat is good for what I want, but the after sale service is awful in my opinion. I am going to have one made from Ally and have it powder Coated.

Pikey Dave · 30 January 2017, 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian9525

Highfield will supply one I am told,(£500) but they want me to take the boat to them for fitting, a round trip of more than 400 miles, they tell me they can be fiddly to fit, there are 12 drilled and tapped holes in the boat that already have the stainless bolts in them, easy as Pie, when I asked them to send me the frame I was completely ignored, more than once, so I tried other Highfield dealers around the country and was largely ignored or referred back to the main man, Harrison, in Southampton... The boat is good for what I want, but the after sale service is awful in my opinion. I am going to have one made from Ally and have it powder Coated.

Don't waste your money on the powder coating, it won't last especially on ally. Anodising will be cheaper & look better in the long term.

jeffstevens763@g · 30 January 2017, 09:41

dont agree regarding the powder coating this was 6 years in fastened down with stainless screws insulated with sikaflex [ali bases]

Pikey Dave · 30 January 2017, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

dont agree regarding the powder coating this was 6 years in fastened down with stainless screws insulated with sikaflex [ali bases]

They don't look to have had much use in 6 years[emoji848]

jeffstevens763@g · 30 January 2017, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

They don't look to have had much use in 6 years[emoji848]

a proper job done dave and looked after as with all my boats

Pikey Dave · 30 January 2017, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

a proper job done dave and looked after as with all my boats

Fair play [emoji106] I've just not seen powder coating last very long, on steel, let alone ally. You've only to look at a Delta A frame after a few years & they ain't cheap[emoji15]