Posted by Al Davies, Port Alberni, B.C. Canada on October 21, 1998 at 22:22:00:
In Reply to: Aluminum Double Eagle posted by John M on September 01, 1998 at 06:20:01:
: Anyone there who has built the Double Eagle w/aluminum?I would like to know about finished cost, power & performance, length of time to construct, and any other info. about the Double Eagle. I ordered plans & will start construction this winter. thank you, John
John., built mine 3 yrs ago,power Volvo I/O 102 shaft HP. 4 cyl turbo aqad30A 25'-3" scaled up from 23 as in book 66 gal fuel.
speed cruise 25-27 kts--open 32 kts, 23kts comfortabsle in a 5 foot slop. My cost at the time in Canadian $,s --3000 lbs alum.@ $1.58. Best to buy your own welding machine, at least a 250 amp spool gun with lots of power lead. Don,t try it with a short push system and expect to hang it over your head as you work. I worked every night after work 5-10pm for three months.
I am a weldor / millwright by trade and taught myself the art of aluminium welding. You cannot have the preconcieved idea that it flows in like steel welding. It works that way. Before you blink you can have a very large hole. I figure I have about 30K invested not counting manhours of labour. About 1000 hours. Present survey for insurance 73K. Any further give me a call. Al.