water in your aframes!

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 09:49

my aframe bolts to the rear transom boxs and i run the cables down the rear tube and into the transom box and then thru the under deck trunking to the console.
i have noticed that water gets in the aframe via the various wire access holes and runs down the inside and into the transom box.

when my aframe bolts arrive i am going to seal up the bottom of the aframe where the wires pass thru into the transom box with sikaflex and put a small hole in the side of the aframe an inch or so up to let the water out.

hopefully this will stop any ingress of water into the transom boxs.....has anyone else dealt with this issue, done something similar?

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 10:25

Not dealt with it myself - but on my Ribcraft the front hoop of the double a-frame deliberately has no holes as these bolt directly to the deck and any water getting into it would collect. The rear hoop (the one with all the wiring) bolts to the back of the transom so water can just flow straight out of the boat.

Who designed your A-frame to finish inside the box ???

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 10:48

standard design on osprey that has been around for years i suspect, but consider this, my underdeck tubing will be in a dry location once i have this sorted out, and.....i have trunking on both sides......so the basis for it is actually quite good. plus gives me somewhere for my rear speakers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

Not dealt with it myself - but on my Ribcraft the front hoop of the double a-frame deliberately has no holes as these bolt directly to the deck and any water getting into it would collect. The rear hoop (the one with all the wiring) bolts to the back of the transom so water can just flow straight out of the boat.
Who designed your A-frame to finish inside the box ???

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 11:12

So the front hoop of your frame is bolted to the deck - and the back hoop is bolted to the top of the transom box?

Are there any bolts fixing it to the transom at all? What is the transom box made out of? Is it very strong?

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

So the front hoop of your frame is bolted to the deck - and the back hoop is bolted to the top of the transom box?

Are there any bolts fixing it to the transom at all? What is the transom box made out of? Is it very strong?

seems plenty strong enough as never heard of anyone breaking the transom boxes or the transom, you have to note these boats are quite heavily built

also the box is made out of fibreglass naturally and parts where the aframe bolts to it is thru 1-2 inchs of marine ply....did some mods myself there.....

if i was to do a redesign i would probably fit to the transom at the rear of the box and then fit at the front as it is today leveraging the maximum strength

i know of folks who wake board behind the aframes with no issues at all

Alice · 21 March 2006, 12:20

I know a guy running that A frame set up on a Vipermax and it's as solid as houses.

Watch those speakers back there Hugh, you'll get a fair bit of sea sloshing around in that area of the boat.

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 12:28

The only reason i ask - is that we were discussing towing with your a-frame in a thread many moons ago - I seem to remember you saying that yhou would not be towing anything heavy anyway - but you though the frame was strong enough - now ive seen your pictures i think the leverege involved would smash the top of your transom box in if you put any rearward pull on that a-frame.

I had this with a few manufacturers when i was researching which RIB to buy - they did not do tow frame options as i think their attachment points were not able to take the load anyway.

here i just found your post http://www.rib.net/forum/showpost.ph...&postcount=119

I would hate for you to reck your transom box just giving a kid a pull on a ringo

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 12:33

back on the topic of water

now ive seen your pictures - i would have left the rear hoop undrilled and put all the cabling in the fron hoop - the cable could have then come out the bottom of the tube and through a gromet in the transom box. any water in the frame would then simply drain onto the deck.

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 12:46

For comparison - this is how my tow frame is attached at the back...

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 13:16

thanks for the input Roy, much appreciated

I just spoke with mike who makes the boats and he confirmed the transom boxes are plenty strong enough

my kids are lighter than cheese puffs so i think pulling them up will be no problem.

i think filling the base of the aframe with sealant should be fine and having a drain hole or sealing at the transom box. will give it a go and see what happens.

the option of having the wire out of the front of the transom box is indeed an option but given hindsight i would still do it the way i have done so as to prevent unsightly wires and being exposed to possible damage

also on tow points.....i have 3 lifting points on the boat for craning and on the transom these double up as towing eyes as well so should present no issues there

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 13:58

cool - will you have your "cheese puffs" with you when you are down this way then - im hopping to have mine waterskiing as soon as possible.

Got these out of the local paper a couple of weeks ago.

We can do some toy swapping while you are down.

Alice · 21 March 2006, 15:03

I'm gonna rig a training pole on to mine this spring to get the rest of our kids wakeboarding. 2 can, 2 not quite. It gets 'em going a lot quicker. My son learnt on one in Greece last summer and was flying after 3 lessons. An old GRP windsurfer mast is good.

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 15:50

Im not going to give my kids luxuries i didn't have - it will make them soft

They should think themselves lucky they got buoyancy aids

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 16:23

my two that are coming are only 5 and 3 so i dont think they will be waterskiing or wakeboarding this year!!

the toys look good by the way, i need to get some for mine. and for me!!!

looking forward to meeting you and the family

randski · 21 March 2006, 17:43

[QUOTE=roycruse
We can do some toy swapping while you are down. [/QUOTE]

Luke will have to try this out this summer Roy! Had great fun on it last year.

Ezgoing · 21 March 2006, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

For comparison - this is how my tow frame is attached at the back...

Guys do you really use your A Frame as a tow point.??

roycruse · 21 March 2006, 19:41

Mine is designed to be a high tow point for wakeboarding, waterskiing, etc. - I'm as shocked as you that anyone with a standard a frame is contemplating it - i have visions of cracked and broken grp and bent and twisted stainless.

I paid big extra bucks to have a 2" diameter double a-frame with extremely chunky anchorages direct to deck and transom it has a special T-post at the back in the centre for hooking the line over.

Just look at the pictures to see its considerable beefier than a standard frame used only for lights and antennas.

tcwozere · 21 March 2006, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

my kids are lighter than cheese puffs so i think pulling them up will be no problem.

Your gonna pull a 5yr old, (or 3yr old, or both,) behind you with no "hands-on" adult supervision?

Alice · 21 March 2006, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by randski

Luke will have to try this out this summer Roy! Had great fun on it last year.

Bob, is that the seat out of Geoff's boat?!

Hugh Jardon · 21 March 2006, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwozere

Your gonna pull a 5yr old, (or 3yr old, or both,) behind you with no "hands-on" adult supervision?

i think i have clearly stated what i will and wont be doing?

i take it you missed a later post saying...

my two that are coming are only 5 and 3 so i dont think they will be waterskiing or wakeboarding this year!!

i also have a near 18 year old that is built like a racing snake, she will be doing some skiing hopefully, but i never mentioned that earlier

I think it is best to keep it all in context dont you? Don't want anyone getting any wrong ideas do we....