Roberta's Torpedo

[Hercdrvr]

My deck is all wood, in the picture you can see one of 1/4"maple strips of wood separating from the mahogany.
Matt B

[Denon Osterman]

Hey Roberta, quick question on the trim tabs - why did you opt for them over the more traditional "turnbuckle cavitation plate" style (see below pic)? Ease of adjustment?



And Bill - Do you know if the need for expansion is mitigated if the "subdecks" are made of the same or similar wood than the main one? I personally was going to do a "caulkless" top...but now you've got me worried.

P.S., Not sure I've managed to say this yet, but a huge congratulations to Roberta on your work! That is one beautiful boat, and made even more impressive given you helped to finish the design! Very well done

[Roberta]

Thanks, Denon!! A couple of reasons for the Lenco tabs. The Torpedo transom curves quite a bit and I though the linkage might bind or get complicated. I did want to be able to vary the settings easily for changing loads as fuel depleted in the very aft tank. And the Lenco's seem simpler to install, especially in a completed boat.

Roberta

[Bill Edmundson]

Denon

On a sunny day on the Gulf coast the temperature on top of a dark deck will burn you. The underside of the sub-deck will be warm. The difference makes for a lot of stress.

Bill

[Denon Osterman]

Roberta, that makes sense on the tabs. I'm still debating if I should add cavitation plates to mine...but that's still a little ways off!

Bill, that makes sense. Hopefully up in (much cooler) Canada I don't run into the same issue...though I suppose only time will tell. My mahagony covering is also only "veneer" thickness, i.e. 1/8" (and less when sanded), which will hopefully help the issue somewhat...though now I'm all worried

[WayWard]

I just finished going through this thread again.


I may have a problem.....

[Roberta]

My biggest problem was convincing my husband I needed to build it. I truly love this boat and all the attention it gets.

[WayWard]

Just wanted to add that while I am in the planning/ambitious dreaming phase. This thread is incredibly helpful in that it provides a lot of insight into the build process to force me to think about how best to deal with some of the complications of boatbuilding.

This is such a detailed thread, it is immensely valuable. Everything is so beautifully documented. I expect I'll read through it a few more times before I get around to starting. As I learn more and more leading up to my hopeful build, I'm able to glean new insights into particular build phases

Thanks Roberta!!

[jenko]

congrats on another trophy

[svenole]

Something isn't right there.

[Roberta]

What!!

Roberta

[tborg]

Hi Roberta,

I saw in the picture posted in the lates Glen-L email that you added hydraulic trim tabs to your torpedo. Was there issues that brought you to that modification?

Thanks,

tborg

[Roberta]

Actually, they are electric Lenco trim tabs. Higher speed above 35 mph tended to raise the bow up to a point where rough water would cause the boat to porpoise. The tabs allow me to adjust the bow height and smooth out the ride at high speed in rough water. I can exceed 50 mph without porpoising and the boat handles great.

Roberta

[chugalug]

I read the comment you submitted to"Woodyboater" on the Cobra.I like your boat far more than the "Cobra".It's got that funny looking bulbous bow,whereas yours is alot smoother and I was not too enthused on their fin -yours came out perfect.Just my opinion.

[Roberta]

Who could argue with such wisdom!!! Thanks, Chug!!

Roberta