Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Making a rigging tunnel
Posted by Binkie on 12/08/08 - 1:41 PM
#1
Has anyone ever cut a PVC or plastic pipe in two pieces in order to glass 1/2 of the pipe to the deck to make a rigging tunnel for your 13 or 15 footer. In my case I needed both halfs to make bottom stiffeners for an antique fiberglass runabout.. They will be glassed to the inside of the hull. I was thinking about how to do this, driving home from Lowe`s. It turned out to be easy although also easy to screw up. I used 4" plastic drain pipe.
rich
Posted by jquigley on 12/09/08 - 5:23 AM
#2
I haven't done it, but I like the idea. It would be nice to stand when running around in chop to take some of the impact off of my behind. If you decide to do it, let us know how it turns out. Seems like it might be a decent amount of work. Have you thought about what your plan would be for the non-skid? It seems you would have to grind a lot of it out to get a surface to glass to, but maybe there is an easier way than I thought.
---John
Posted by moose on 12/09/08 - 11:13 AM
#3
Rich,
I cut a 4" in half to make a drain across a sicewalk that was brick. It was very difficult to cut straight and after a couple of years it got brittle. If you coat it in the boat it might last longer.
Mike
Posted by Phil T on 12/09/08 - 11:45 AM
#4
Bink -
Do you recall reading about a 13 or 15 owner who did drill a tunnel for a center console conversion project? I remember reading about it but can't recall who it was. That's what happens when you read too much. Something falls out.
Posted by Jeff on 12/09/08 - 11:47 AM
#5
Mick made an center fuel tank cavity and rigging tunnel for his 15 Center Console conversion.
Posted by Binkie on 12/09/08 - 3:04 PM
#6
I discovered an easy way to cut a pipe in half and get two equal pieces. The important thing it to first chalk a line that is parallel to the edge. Otherwise the cut will be twisted. The plastic pipe I used had a slightly visible seam, which made this job easy. If you can`t find a seam you can look for parallel scratch marks the length of the pipe made at the fab. plant. On PVC pipe you can use the numbers and letters on the pipe, and chalk a line at the top or bottom of those letters. Onece you have the first line chalked take a flexible tape and wrap it around the circumference and get that measurement. Take that number and divide it in two, and make a mark on the pipe at that number. now you have two marks exactly 180 degrees apart. Chalk the second line on the marks, and cut both lines with a circular saw. Now you have two identical 1/2 pipes. I think you could glue the half pipe to the floor with 2500, weight it down for a few days, and now have a rigging tunnel, with no interference of the non skid pattern.
Myself I used both pieces as hull stiffeners in an antique glass runabout. they will be covered with a couple of layers of mat.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19...ipe2-1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19.../pipe3.jpg
rich
Posted by hotdog7 on 12/16/08 - 4:24 PM
#7
I think I would just run it down a table saw
Posted by wezie on 12/17/08 - 9:28 AM
#8
Not just a little falls out. It seems that a lot falls out, but I try to classify it as wisdom of age.
There have been at least two articles concerning total refirb of a 15; including cutting the deck for a tunnel. One was done in the islands for a particular fishing. (bone maybe) Anyway it looked great when finished.
I believe that was posted about 2 years ago, Continuous wave or The hull truth.
Most likely CW.
I wish I could be more help.
Thanks for the pipe cutting ideas. I think I would try blocking the pipe on a table saw if available.
Posted by Binkie on 12/17/08 - 4:00 PM
#9
Blocking the pipe on a table saw. My first thought also, Try it, it won`t work, even if you can set the saw blade high enough to cut through the whole pipe at once, The pipe will twist, and you will end up with two unusable pieces.
rich
Posted by hotdog7 on 12/17/08 - 7:05 PM
#10
Wow I would have thought it would glide right threw.
Posted by Guts on 12/18/08 - 10:38 AM
#11
Binkie wrote:
Blocking the pipe on a table saw. My first thought also, Try it, it won`t work, even if you can set the saw blade high enough to cut through the whole pipe at once, The pipe will twist, and you will end up with two unusable pieces.rich
So true it will twist. I would like to add my two cents on this. If you would take a straight board could be any thing like MDF or PLY it just has to be straight. Rip it to the outside with, then lay on a flat surface put some double sided tape on the board, down the middle. Now stick the board to the round cylinder. Now you can run it thru the table saw, with the board against the table saw fence. If the blade will not go high enough, turn the board over and run it thru again.