OUTLAW EAGLE MANUFACTURING

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

My First Aluminum hull
21' 1999 sport steptech customized by Gator
496 bbc forged srp pistons eagle H-beam Rods Eagle forged crank roller lifters and rockers estimated around 650 HP pump is AT309 new AA stainless impeller number welded on bottom of hull is 1421

can anyone tell me if this is a eagle hull? or anything else about this boat?

Boomhower · Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 995

yES IT IS AN EAGLE.

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

Thanks
i got the boat in april this year and redone the motor and pump completly.
took this boat out 8 or 9 times so far and i have to say this thing handles pretty amazing. i got 73mph on gps alone in the boat with about half thank of gas left, i was hoping for somthing in the 80s but still verry happy with it. the only problem im having now is a weld that keeps cracking on the last step of the hull i repaired it removing all of the weld acid cleaned it and rewelded it with my spool gun and 3 rides later its cracked again same exact place.
im runing this boat on a lake here maybe im to hard on this?
any ideas on making this stronger or am i just not doing this right ?

Arthur · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject:

Happened to mine too when I first got it(2000 hull). Had a welder in town fix it for $200 and it cracked 2 weeks later.....brought it to Outlaw and they fixed it and it hasn't gave me grief for 5+ hrs. They did a nicer and obviously stronger weld than the guy at our machine shop did.

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

Well in my area im the local Machine shop thats why i tried welding it my self but my area of expertise is Hydraulic Cylinders not aluminum jet boats.
if i would of been anywhere neer outlaw it would already be there i know thay would do a way better job than me but im close to 4000 km away so i guess im on my own.
What about those trime plates in the back does eagle still use this on newer boats, are these a week point for cracking? i tought of cutting them off but after adjusting them a little higher i lost alot of stability over 60mph

Arthur · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject:

Ya I saw how far you were away, I was just implying that with the proper weld it should be ok for a long time. it looks like they layed a 1/2" thick bead across both sides. the trim tabs will help your handling and make you're boat feel more stable. I'd keep em!

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

when you say 1/2" thick bead across both sides do you mean thay welded inside and outside on the botom of the hull?

Arthur · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject:

No, inside only. The first guy that did it kinda looked like yours....not sure how they welded it, but inside it's a wide weld and it looks strong. I'll try and take pics this weekend.

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

Thanks for the help i really appreciate it

riverboater · Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 153 Location: Prince George

turn the voltage up or the wire speed down, it looks like the weld was a little cold and didn't wet out to both surfaces.

greg b · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Clarkston Wa.

you might also check your trailer bunks I had same problem on an older boat, actually turned out the bunks were way out of adjustment and where the weld was cracking was the only place the boat was in contact with the bunk so was putting way too much stress on that area. took a torch, releived the bunk support, problem gone!

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

i dont think the trailer bunks are to blame here
you can see where the paint is gone thats where the crack is

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

I will try Welding a few plates with diferant temperature and try to rip them apart on the press to see if i can get better at this if not i have a good freind thats a pro welder i can get him to look at it.
i just tought those trim tabs could of been an issue as both times i adjusted then lower was when the cracks formed but maybe just a coincidence. I did hit a few big bad waves that are more suspected to have cracked the weld.

Gent911 · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Montreal Quebec

Well after lots of practice i think i got better at welding aluminum but i still dont think my weld was the problem so after rewelding i started to examine this a little better as i took the engine out to change the mecanical seal and trust bearing. i found that the botom plate hade lots of flex right where the weld cracked so i think that the flex is responsible for cracking the weld so i made a little reenforcement with a welded angle on the botton.
now the flex is gone and i think it should hold much better.
anyone think this might be a bad idea to have made it stronger in the way?
thanks guys
i really apreciate your advice on this

greg b · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Clarkston Wa.

Gent, sorry, still would guess the trailer bunk is the root of your problem! If most of the boat weight is being supported by that outside bunk vs. the keel bunk it is not good! Second thought, with your repair weld cracking so soon, you might check and make sure the filler wire used to make the repair weld was NOT 4043 filler wire, should use 5356 wire. your angle brace should be fine and help.
Regards,
Greg