Sailboat conversion

[ratherbefishin]

I would very much like a trailerable, displacement hull pilothouse type fishing boat,and there is a 24' fiberglass ,dagger board style sail boat for sale pretty cheap[$1500]offered as a ''project boat''.I was wondering would this be a candidate to convert from a regular sailboat to a recreational fishing trawler,by cutting out the roof of the cabin, adding height to make it into a walk in pilothouse,and just have a mast for a staysail?I would add an exterior keel, replacing the daggerboard for tracking,and possably install a 20 or 30 hp diesel for power.Any thoughts?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sailboat conversion

sounds like a good project. always wanted to try it, but haven't.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Sailboat conversion

Other than it's Priced at 3 Times what a Project Boat Hull is Worth,..........<br /><br />Ayuh,... It sounds like FUN........<br /><br />I've had the Same thoughts,...... I just think that Space is even Smaller on Blowboats......

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Sailboat conversion

Where I put my boat in, I see a boat that was converted exactly as you described. It is a very able boat and roomy after the deck mods and pilot house addition.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Sailboat conversion

an efficient displacement hull is going to be less roomy[longer and narrower] than a typical wide planing hull, so I figured the cruising sailboat hull would be pretty efficient as a motor cruiser.$1500 for the whole thing, fittings included shouldn't be too bad-I think the biggest expense would be a larger diesel motor,but from the ads,I think a decent one could be had for around $3000

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sailboat conversion

when you can post some pictures, please.

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Sailboat conversion

Make sure you take into consideration room in the boat. I’ve thought about the same thing because of the fuel economy, it don’t take much of a motor to push em, and they have a decent ride in the rough stuff. You can usually get them for next to nothing around here if the mast and or sails are bad, they are worth more then the boat. I even ran across a few people who gave them away, they were around 26 footers too! No sails, mast or trailer though and you'd have had to do a lot of chopping on the keel to make a motor boat out of it, sails just ain't my thing. I once rode in a 23’ tour boat skiff with a sailboat type haul, a one foot keel weighted with 800#, a ten horse 4 stroke Honda and it did 12 knots with ten people in it. The big draw back that kept me from messing with them is they are long and it make’s them look big but when you take a closer look the beam sucks, two fishermen trying to pass would be tripping all over the other. To bad your not closer I’d give you a few leads on about the same thing you could get a lot cheaper if you decide to go with it.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Sailboat conversion

dagger board boats are awful tippy when the board is up, I would be sure to wieght the keel, and run it down at least a foot or so. also I think I would wack the mast at the spreaders for the staysail. just to try and cut down the swinging weight up top. does it have an inboard now? they are quite capable as powered for auxilary, it might be all you need.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Sailboat conversion

yah, it would definately need a full length weighted keel,for both tracking and stability

 

[tommays]

Re: Sailboat conversion

I would keep the engine as small as you can YOUR not going over 7 knots in a 24 ft sailboat hull.<br /><br />The centerboard is only there for Lateral Resistance when your sailing to windward its really not going to change the stabilty up or down.<br /><br />Sailboats really lose that stabilty thing when there are no sails up to stablize it.<br /><br />Which is why you will see the mast on some trawler style boats.<br /><br />Adding any real amount of ballast is going to have the boat sitting below it's marks.(the amount of hull the Naval Architect wanted in the water)which will really slow it DOWN<br /><br />BUT you got me thinking because i am looking for a trawler right now and there are TONS of DEAD sailboats here<br /><br />tommays

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Sailboat conversion

I think a big slow RPM prop would match the efficient displacement hull.Adding a keel should stop the rolling somewhat and help with tracking

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Sailboat conversion

Oh No! Speak of the devil….A neighbor was cleaning out his garage and he knows how much I like to play with boats and dragged over around a 20’ sail boat LOL. I told him put it in the back yard with the rest of the “to do” projects. If it wasn’t free with a galvanized trailer under it I probably would have told him to keep going with it. I’ll probably sell the mast, sails, rudder, etc... on ebay or something, I haven’t decided yet. It looks like it’s sailing days are over, the dagger board looks like it’s made of steel rusted solid in the hull, and the transom is bad. I don’t know the first thing about sailing or what I’m going to do with the beast. The cabin sure makes a good storage shed in the meantime

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: Sailboat conversion

I just love those little 'ranger 21'' tugs-but the price tag is a little steep-so I got to thinking about the possabilities of retrofitting a cruising sailboat as a pilothouse type displacement cruiser-justfor messing around, gunkholing , fishing, stuff like that.Being trailerable has the advantage of security, saves on moorage,and transport to other intersting spots.