Convert to Fishing boat

[djneff2]

I have an 83 Sylvan that I am re-building the transom and replacing the floor in.
I bought it as a fishing boat and I would like to make the space more usable.
I would like to add a live well up in the front and raise the floor in front also that way I can have storage compartments.
Anyone have any pictures of a conversion?

 

[oops!]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

hi.....welcome to i boats........

anything you want to do to your boat has been done and discussed in detail on these forums at one time or another.

id suggest to read all the compleated projects forum.....it can give you a hugh insight on what you are about to do

cheers
oops

 

[5150abf]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

Every big project I have done like that has started with very detailed drawings, alot easier to get a new sheet of paper than to tear out something that didn't work.

You can see alot of would be problems before you start building too and I would say if you can't design it on paper you probably aren't going to be able to do it on the boat either.

Work up a list of things you will need so you can price it too,the livewell, livewell pump, thru hull drain, hoses and fittings ect, ect, can add up pretty quick.

And a 10 or 12 gallon livewell is going to weight 70-80 lbs, get that bouncing around and it is alot of force that needs to be adressed.

I don't know what materials you have to work with so how you should do it I don't know, just plan every detail before you start and you will cut your problems in half and stand a much better chance of getting it done.

Good luck

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

look here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=407

 

[djneff2]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

Where is the best place for a live well? In front or back?
I was either thinking of placing the live well in the back and making a seat out of it or in the front and making a platform over it. by no means would I build the platform more than a foot high off of the deck.
I am a carpenter by trade and am pretty handy. As for 5150abf stated eirlier it is a good idea to draw it out before sawdust is flying.

Should I place batteries in the front of the boat if I place the live well in the back?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

There's no way to make any suggestions on where to place things until we know a lot more about the boat. Size, HP, is it a tiller, CC, SC, DC etc, and what else do you have planned.

 

[djneff2]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

I was refering to weight proportioning more than layout.
16 foot aluminumn with 60 HP outboard, boat is rated for a 75HP. I have walkthrough counsole and I have a steering wheel, no tiller.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Convert to Fishing boat

Weight proportioning and length go hand in hand, so does helm location and HP.

Smaller boats will be more affected by weight distribution, so a live well will have a much greater affect than on a 20', plus a lower HP motor may not be able to plane the boat if things aren't just right.

When boats are designed they try to take everything into account and place the heavy stuff where the numbers say it should be, they sort of put the stuff in place, but make it moveable. When they put the boat in the water for the first time it frequently all gets adjusted so the boat works well. This will be what you need to do, take some sand bags, or a cooler (about the size of the live well) full of water, put it where you want it and see if the boat will plane and run well, then move it around and see what happens. 16' boats can be very sensitive to weight distribution and layout, I always make parts out of cardboard or scrap plywood first to see if there's even enough room for everything. Typically in a small boat less is more.
I like smaller boats and am one of the few people that doesn't suffer from two footitis, well at least not a chronic sufferer.