bertram31.com

Hi Guys,

Planning out the engine bed rebuild for the new diesels. I'm basically following Capt Patrick's/Bruce's recommendations from the Buddy Boy install on the installation tips. I do have one question though:

In my quest to not use any wood in anything I put in Shambala, I would prefer to make the sisters out of 3/4" Coosa bonded together with 1708 Biaxial mat between each sheet and on the outside to reach the same thickness as the mahogany sisters in the building tips article. I would still use a 4" 6061 cap rail on top. Is there any reason why I should not use Coosa versus mahogany on an engine bed stringer?

Thanks in advance,

JohnV8r

John

Hopefully someone has the answer to that one, but I would question if it could handle the torque without ripping out the brackets.

John-
I am no expert - Closer to an idiot, but I believe that is fine. With either material I like the idea of through bolting the C-channel instead of securing it with screws. Good mahogany might hold a screw a little better.
Keep up the good work!
Stephan

John there was a Bertram 31 done by mcdougalls marine the used coosa for the engine beds/stringers. My experience with coosa is it is strong when laminated and glassed with several layers.

Not sure about the quest to replace all wood, especially mahogany---seems to have a long lifespan and holds screws/bolts very well.

I do understand the need to add aluminum to beef them up for the higher torque of diesels.....

I'm planning on using coosa to build my engine beds. I've removed 8' of the outboard stringers and ~5' of the inboard stringers. I will be building them back with layers of laminated 3/4" coosa. The plan is to have 1" thick alum plate under the 4 x6 x1/2" aluminum angle caps where the motor mounts will be located. Everything will be through-bolted.