Aluminum transom well

[CaptForest]

Hello all,
I've an 18' offshore of indeterminate year. I plan to fish the puget sound and area rivers, no ocean stuff really. I was wondering how necessary all of that transom well really was. If I put a bench back there to cover batteries etc would that be enough or can I expect to be swamped the first time I have a following sea or stop quickly from speed. I'd sure like to gain the large area of boat that well uses. Any experience/ advice?
Forest

 

[classiccat]

Re: Aluminum transom well

Hello all,
I've an 18' offshore of indeterminate year. I plan to fish the puget sound and area rivers, no ocean stuff really. I was wondering how necessary all of that transom well really was. If I put a bench back there to cover batteries etc would that be enough or can I expect to be swamped the first time I have a following sea or stop quickly from speed. I'd sure like to gain the large area of boat that well uses. Any experience/ advice?
Forest

Removing the splashwell entirely is not advised...not only for swamping but it also provides considerable structural support by stabilizing your gunwales.

You can shorten the splashwell however...as done in ctwf's '69 Offshore restoration:

 

[dozerII]

Re: Aluminum transom well

:welcome: CaptForest, I agree totally with BF above, (and nice drawings by the way) it would be a real bad idea to remove the splash well completely. Post up some pictures of your boat.

 

[CaptForest]

Re: Aluminum transom well

Thanks.
Most likely going to follow the above. I'll post pics when I get home. I'm in Korea for work.

 

[barato2]

Re: Aluminum transom well

especially a bad idea ditching splashwell completely if you're fishing west coast, even in Puget Sound. prevailing winds mean you'll be dealing with following seas coming home in the afternoons.