boat lenghthning project

[nickpappapump]

ok i have a 16' fiberglass flat bottom garvey and i want to make it 20'.

here are some things i need some answers for:

were to cut it?(like in the middle or towards the back?)

should i put some kind of plate were it comes together or do you think i should just fiberglass it and it should be strong enough?

and what else should i worry about?????

please help!!!!!

 

[rayodunne]

Re: boat lenghthning project

Please see this post and it will answer all your questions.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

 

[legoman67]

Re: boat lenghthning project

unless you have a lot of time and money ready to use on this i would just buy a 20ft hull and refinish it, Hulls are extremely cheap, and are easy to find.

fibreglass is strong enough, considering the rest of the boat is made of it, but it needs to be done correctly or else it will not hold. the link posted above shows how to do it correctly, which involves laying up the entire hull afew times after tabing the new section. Also you will need a very good support system for the boat well this is underway. there is 0 tolerance for movement or shifting well you are laying up the new section. if the boat isnt perfectly straight, its going to give you all kinds of nightmares, and wil have majour handling problems... Along with the extension you can also expect to do a full transom and stringers(DUH) job... along with the floor, and any engine mounts.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: boat lenghthning project

unless you have a lot of time and money ready to use on this i would just buy a 20ft hull and refinish it, Hulls are extremely cheap, and are easy to find.

I have to agree... unless you really want to do this just for the experience of it, and have the money to do so, it would be much easier to just find a "junker" 20ft. boat to fix up instead.

After the few boats I have restored, I have decided I have had it with fiberglass... I wont be restoring another one, ever!

I certainly wouldn't want to go through the headache of adding an extension to one on top of the rebuild! UGH!

Good luck however you decide to go!

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: boat lenghthning project

ok i have a 16' fiberglass flat bottom garvey and i want to make it 20'.

here are some things i need some answers for:

were to cut it?(like in the middle or towards the back?)

should i put some kind of plate were it comes together or do you think i should just fiberglass it and it should be strong enough?

and what else should i worry about?????

please help!!!!!

the link that rayodonne posted is required reading around these forums. Our own member Oops! is in the middle of a hull extention as we speak. he is well over a year into it and a job like that requires knowledge, commitment, and lots of money. if you have any of those missing, then dont even consider it. if you have all of them, along with a BIG shop, LOTS of free time and an INCREDIBLY understanding wife, then i say go for it. At minimum, I would read Oops! thread, then get in touch with him and talk to him about the trials and tribulations when it comes to a hull extension.


i know there is a 20 footer around every corner here that can be picked up sans motor for under 500 bucks.

 

[jonesg]

Re: boat lenghthning project

I would do it like this.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=306152

and it only takes 2 minutes to read.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: boat lenghthning project

A hull extension is not something to be done by a rookie. oops! was lucky to have hands on help from actual boat builders that saved the hull a few times. Several people would stop by to check on his progress and advise him during the build. If he never had the help from these guys and of course the experts on this forum that hull would have been in the landfill. Do yourself a favor and enjoy your boat while you shop for a different hull.

 

[oops!]

Re: boat lenghthning project

you are in for a whole lot of work my friend.

i suggest to find another boat.

however ......if you really love the boat......and are really dedicated to it.....anything can be done to a glass boat.......and its your boat and you can do anything you want to your boat.

please read my thread...all of it...not just skim it. i am in to it for well over 2000 hours......well over.....the faring of the hull alone was 4 months at 6 hrs a day of nothing but sanding. and im still not done sanding !.

if you choose to do this......i will help where ever i can.

cheers oops

 

[oops!]

Re: boat lenghthning project

by the way.....the extension on the woodie is really good for a woodie...

but with a glass boat and longer extensions....the transom section that he kept has to go....you need to laminate the fiberglass to the hull from the inside and keeping the transom on makes that impossible.

your best bet is to find a flat spot in the hull shape....(uasually near the back and cut it there)

in the early days, when a builder made a boat.....they started with a 15 footer....pulled a mold....then used that mold to make more 15 footers....

then they cut one of the boats....extended the hull like i did....faired the heck out of it.....and made another mold of the new 16 foot hull....made lots of 16 footers ..then cut that one...and made a 17 foot......

that is why you can uasually find a flat spot some where near the transom of the hull.

but once again.....understand.......it cost more money to extend the boat than it is to buy a new one. (when we are talking about runabouts)

putting aside the cost of the raw materials......you will need a new steering and shift cables not to mention the electrical cables....and any other front to back systems.
you will also need a new interior....a different trailer....and chances are....a bigger motor. (unless you can vac bag....you will add another 5-600 lbs on your boat....easy)

after that ....when you get it all togeather......what if you dont like the boat?

just some things to think about

cheers
oops

 

[redfury]

Re: boat lenghthning project

Ward, that last line is the only thing that makes me go about my boat. I've never actually used this boat, or one like it before! I may find out after it's all said and done, that I hate the thing! How about that?!

( I did put a lot of thought into it before I purchased the boat however, so it wasn't just on a whim )