Ribcraft 545 project

[nugent]

I just drill 20 mm holes in it here there n every where

[Stewy]

Finally got around to filling the tank up with water.

90 liters, see if its still there in the morning.

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Is it just field drain style you used? What diameter?

i used 50mm id because it was 70mm od and matched the outboard rigging tube flexible conduit self draining but its too small i couldnt get my steering hydraulics inside so had to run them outside .you can get the 70mm rigging tube but its expensive .i need to fit new fuel hose this winter so im going to just cut the old tube off the bundle of cables ect and redo with with 70mm spiral winding with the humber grp protection pieces to hold it in place on the deck . that way if i need to work on anything inside the tubing i can just unwind the spiral wrap to expose the cables wires ect and spiral winding is totally self draining

[Stewy]

Well not much happening, busy with work.

Made some seat bases and ordered some foam/fabric. The first to foams they sent were the wrong size (the rear ones in picture) still not sure if they are firm enough.

Ordered fuel filler and a Wema sender/gauge to fill the tank hole.

New ribcraft decals and a new name (chosen by my 3 year old)

[Barrel Rider]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Well not much happening, busy with work.

Made some seat bases and ordered some foam/fabric. The first to foams they sent were the wrong size (the rear ones in picture) still not sure if they are firm enough.

Ordered fuel filler and a Wema sender/gauge to fill the tank hole.

New ribcraft decals and a new name (chosen by my 3 year old)

I ordered foam recently to make seat cushions and picked reticulated foam which was recommended for boat seating, it was way too soft though so changed it for chip foam

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by Barrel Rider

I ordered foam recently to make seat cushions and picked reticulated foam which was recommended for boat seating, it was way too soft though so changed it for chip foam

Yes that is what this is! I'm probably going to use those on the rear seats and try chip foam for the fronts.

Although it's comfortable, it sqaushes from 10 inches to 3.

[Peter_C]

I am not sure what chip foam is, but for marine use ideally you want an anti-microbial foam, that quick dries.

This is one of the go to companies in the USA for boat upholstery.
https://www.sailrite.com/shop/foam-p...-exterior-foam

[willk]

Regarding overly firm foam - I have heard of fitters using two different grades of foam in the one seat - a soft layer on top of firm. The idea being it's fairly comfy most of the time and prevents you, um, 'bottoming out' in the rough.

[Stewy]

Definitely want a nice firm helm seat.

The elephant trunk holes were just flowcoated over and starting to flake, so I've cleaned them up and expoxied some pipe in.

Please with the condition of the plywood and how heavy the layup is.

[Fenlander]

>>Regarding overly firm foam - I have heard of fitters using two different grades of foam in the one seat - a soft layer on top of firm.

Yep much like the cutaway of a mattress I was looking at with my old mum yesterday, being presented as high tech 4 layer of differing density foams... but I was thinking it's just foam.

For a decade we'd never really found a decent seat cushion for the sib then a few years ago took a chance on these Ukraine made, German supplied ones. They are a superb foam combo construction being super firm such that they never bottom out (see the negligble deflection from a 56lb weight) even in the most harsh crash down off a wave yet that thin top layer takes the pressure from the seat bones when sitting normally.

The greater thickness of blue foam particles looks a bit like they've used some sort of scrap but whatever it is it does the job so well. Looks nothing like the usual compressed chip foam.

Genuinely life changing in terms of our sibbing comfort.

[Stewy]

That looks like really good foam, I couldn't find anything like it on a Google search!

The local upholstery place is on holiday until the 22nd, so no further forward with getting the seats covered.

The decals finally showed up in the post this week. Made in the same fabric impression.

[Stewy]

Gave up waiting for a offcut of field drain to come up for sale on marketplace and I wasn't buying a 25/50m roll.

Ended up buying some 80mm id flexi ducting, hopefully do the job.

[Stewy]

Not much of an update. To busy with house/work.

But had a couple of seats made and finally sold the big American bunked trailer the boat came on and made some dolly's for now.

Hopefully get the boat in the garage over winter to get some work done.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Not much of an update. To busy with house/work.

But had a couple of seats made and finally sold the big American bunked trailer the boat came on and made some dolly's for now.

Hopefully get the boat in the garage over winter to get some work done.

That shot certainly shows the deep V hull of the 545.

[Stewy]

Yes it's an impressive V.

I really should get a keel gaurd on while there's no trailer in the way.