1965 lonestar modification

[catboat]

Hi everyone, new to the site, but been doing alot of reading on here some very good info.. So I have a question for the experts. My boat is a 16' Alum. utility boat design with 3 seats, the bow is closed across front of boat about 4' back with storage,this area does not go all the way down to floor its off floor about 1'. The seats are riveted to the bottom of the boat. The seat have braces that come down from the top of boat to the top of the seats. What I would like to do is cut the middle seat down about 10" leaving the braces intact and the bottom portion of the seat intact, so there would be about 9" of seat still left on each side and about 3" left along the bottom. Would I be losing to much support to do this? If this is possible would it be too much to do the front seat the same way, only not cutting the front support as low and then having a step up of about 5" to finish out front of boat with decking? Would it be possible for this or should I just cut on the middle bench? I plan on using angle riveted to seats to support deck, there is 28" of floor in between seats. I hope this makes sense to you, if you have questions please ask. Thank you in advance for the help would hate to ruin my fishing boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

is it like one of these. if not go here : http://www.fiberglassics.com/ clik boat info, then brochures, then lonestar. pick the closest and tell us.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

Yes it looks like the one on the bottom right.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

the seats are structural, describe a little better what you are trying to do, i did not follow it. are you wanting to cut out the center of the seat for a walk thru type situation???

this was mine it is the bottom left.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

yes. my seats are not open like yours, they are solid all the way to the floor. Each seat is two seperate pieces of alum. with wood across for the top

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

i would say you could take the middle third out of the seat. leaving a 3rd on each side. or the gunnels will be like tin foil in the water.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

What will you gain by cutting the seats up? More storage? Easier access? Reason I ask is I don't like to cut up boats, they're made like they are for a reason...usually I come up with another alternative to achieve what I want if I just thing/reconsider things for a bit. Lonestars are nice boats, enjoy it either way.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

you will be devaluing you boat, doing. it is a LONE STAR.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

now the way the boat is set up is a platform going across middle and front bench it puts the cog to high up in boat. What i was trying to accomplish is to get more space and to have a level platform at the bottom of boat. This boat is just a fishing boat, I dont know much about boats. So what is this boat worth not being cut up? I will get pictures hopefully today so you guys can take a look at it. It would really open up some floor space doing what the mod. to the boat. To me it is worth more to have it set up for a better fishing boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

i just put some 1/2 inch plywood panels between the seats, it a 1x2 in the center to take the spring out. gave me a flat surface to stand on.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

Ditto, ditch the higher platform and put a floor in the boat for more stability. My last boat, not much bigger than yours, had removeable floor panels made to fit between each seat. Made cleaning it out real easy, and a stable platform for standing up or fishing in comfortable folding camp chairs placed between the seats. Have also seen others cut a square-rectangle compartment in those seats, insert some foam and have a cooler built in.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

here are the pictures of the boat. Any suggestions?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

yep what we have already said, floor panels between the seats. if you don't get paint on whats there, it won't be there long.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

This is the way i bought the boat. I am going to replace the wood and thought this would be a good time to make it more fisherman friendly. If i just go with panels between the seats should i still put angle on the seats at hte bottom to have a place to put floor on, or should i just set them in the bottom of the boat? Thanks again

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

Depends on whether you like stationary or movable seats. In my old boat with removeable deck panels between the seats, I had two swivel seats mounted to seat clamps so we could move them anywhere to any bench seat in the boat. Typically used these earliest in the day...as our activity level waned (beverages may have been involved), we moved to fold-out camp chairs set on the deck between the seats...no swivel function of course, but easily moved around and they fold up out of the way for traveling from spot to spot. When moving, we set on cushions on the benches.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

i have always just set mine in. then they are easy to come out, to hose down the boat.

 

[catboat]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

o.k. so I am not going to cut out the seats, you guys talked me out of it. 1 more question how about adding deck from front seat to the storage area. I f I extend the front to the storage area, how would i go about supportig this? That would leave me some storage room underneath and give a flat floor in the front which would help alot. thanks again

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

you could use some aluminun angle on the edges or 2x4 and a couple of 2x4 thru the center. click on pic to enlarge.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1965 lonestar modification

TD's right, and make it removeable...sooner or later some smelly stuff will need to be cleaned out of that area.