Cut a boat in half.........

[wyoben]

Anyone ever thought about cutting two identical boats in half a joining them in such a way to make a longer boat? If the hull was the the same for a good stretch, could you cut the bow off one and the stern off another and mate them? I have this crazy idea to do this to my 26ft Bayliner Explorer, its a neat little trawler, but the pilot house and fishing deck are to small, anyone ever heard of an say, 30 to 36 foot boat with a 8 foot beam? What kind of handling would a boat like this have? My bayliner has a semi-displacement hull and will never plane, thought about doing this and putting in a sail boat diesel, for propulsion and power.... I've been drinking, and have finally got the nerve to ask..<br /><br />Wyomingben

 

[SS66]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

I think it wouldnt be easy to get the structure stable enough to handle any kind of speed. But Im just a stupid newbie lol

 

[12Footer]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

The Titanic broke in half on before it sank.<br />I'm not sugjesting it cannot be done, but if not braced correctly, it will break in two. Also, it will be "tippy", like a canoe with a pilot house and fishing deck.<br />But if done right, why not?

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

It is done on occasion on some yachts and sportfishing yachts.. Usually an extention is made to an aft cockpit (ie: making a 50footer into a 54footer)...<br /><br /> http://www.onsetbay.com/obmchriscraftextension.html

 

[Ryoken]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

wow, cool link SB....<br /><br />didn't know guys where doing that... i do some pretty crazy customizations with composites in cockpits and bridges, fishboxes, cabinets, sinks, hatching, etc, but never thought of extending... pretty cool.. you gotta be confident in your glasswork for a project like that. <br /><br />thanks for the eyeopener.....

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

it can be done,they did it with BC ferries, lengthened them and raised them.I would think ensuring the stringers were running through would be a key factor.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

Originally posted by wyoben:<br />Anyone ever thought about cutting two identical boats in half a joining them?<br />Wyomingben

I've thought about adding about 10' to a couple different boats. Then woke up and decided not to do it. <br /><br />However, if you're set up to work on big projects, it isn't that big a deal.<br /><br />Rather than chopping up 2 boats, It'd be better to cut one in half and add a section of whatever building material that's appropriate.<br /><br />But you better be at the top of your game as far as getting it back together in proper allignment, looking right, and being strong enough for the additional stresses that come with additional length & weight. <br /><br />Until you cross about 40 feet in hull length, I'd figure it'd be much cheaper, faster, and more practical to just buy a older boat close to what you'd want the project to end up looking like, and refurbish it with a few personalized modifications & such, than to stretch an existing hull.<br /><br />Ed.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

If you decide to do a project of that magnetude, why not quarter the boat and make it longer AND wider??

 

[wyoben]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

I could just put two bows together. That way I would not have to turn around.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

kinda like those goofy parade cars made of two fifty-seven chevy front ends! Hey ben, if you want to keep the good-lookin babes around, I'd scrap that idea!

 

[12Footer]

Re: Cut a boat in half.........

Speakin of cutting boats in half...I'm about to take a chainsaw to the cobra project, and have me a bonfire <br />JK, but whobuddy...It sure is tempting.