Seriousness of a engine cover?

[WNYSoldier44]

I am in the process of working on my 95 glastron. Except one hicup, wife doesnt want it only as a fishing boat but a fish/ski. Issue im runing into is room for people in the back.

The boat has 2 small padded seats that sit next to the engine, as you can see in the photo the giant piece of plastic covering a fraction of the engine itself, about 6 inches total it covers.

I want to remove that big piece of plastic and where the little portion of motor sticks out build a suitable small box around it and then lengthen it, so that in the end the back will be flush with a bench seat to fit 3.

Safe or not safe?

By benjaminladuca at 2012-02-04

By benjaminladuca at 2012-02-04

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Been done many times according to my memory. Do it. Just leave access to the vitals. (bilge,batts etc.)

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Maintain your clearance in the front for the rotating pulleys and your clearance over the flame arrestor. There should also be enough room for adequate air flow around the engine for heat dissipation.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

So what are you doing to accommodate the "fish" part of the fish 'n ski?

 

[WNYSoldier44]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Trolling motor installed in front, livewell built in back, front bow fiberglassed in to make fishing platform.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Just make sure you have as much room as you think you do... Those covers might look huge, but there is often a pulley sticking out that is fairly close already on clearance.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Is that is about an 18-19 footer with a V6 motor? If so, it will be hard to recover too much space. Could you build a bench seat into the motor box? That would give seating for two more. Make sure the back is high enough for safety. I would recommend P/T plywood, some insulating padding and fiberglass reinforcement over all joints. It will be a heavy thing, but strong enough.

How about replacing the post back to back seat with a u-shaped bench seat, or l-shaped bench seat?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

Sell that boat and buy a bigger boat with an outboard engine that more suits your needs.

I'm thinking that cover needs to be the size it is for a reason, probably air flow around the engine for heat distribution and to vent vapors like gasoline fumes.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Seriousness of a engine cover?

stick an outboard on that sucker and lose the doghouse