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Gaps in bow hull seams

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:43 pm
by SHyland83
I'm about to start tack welding my hull together and want to make sure this is OK first. I made some little clamps to line up the seams by the bow but there's a pretty big gap. Here are some pics, at the widest the gap is a little less than 1/4". Is this OK or do I have to try to get the seam tighter?

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Re: Gaps in bow hull seams

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:23 pm
by decurtis
I had exactly the same situation , more on the starboard side than port. Even with using thicker gauge copper wire to prevent breaking I could only get within 1/8 to 1/4 inch in exactly the same 1 foot length of the hull. Correctly or not I decided to ignore it and just made sure the tack weld was a little larger than normal to hold it together. The bow was definitely the most difficult section to get everything to pull together. I thought maybe since I am working from plans only and cutting my own parts that maybe that was the problem but I guess it is just a difficult part of the hull to pull together. I am doing generous fillets in that section; it is a watertight compartment so it is never going to see the light of day.

Re: Gaps in bow hull seams

PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:12 pm
by SHyland83
Thanks that makes me feel better. I drilled 2 more holes and added an extra wire and was able to pull it together a little more.

Re: Gaps in bow hull seams

PostPosted: Sun May 17, 2009 11:33 pm
by jeff
Yep I had a gap at the bow also, maybe 3/16". I used a large tack and generous fillets. All seems well.