Who here has converted an older boat to a self bailing cockpit?

[wca_tim]

I picked up a ca. 20 foot 1979 cruiscraft (aussie made) boat with a well made, fairly deep v hull that I'd like to set up for fishing the sound and inlets, maybe ocean (close, calm days, etc...). It came with a trailer I bought for a couple hundred bucks, but when I got it home the hull and transome seem very solid, and other than some easily reparable "boo boos" in the hull, it seems like a very solid boat.

If I keep it, I'll gut the interior, replace / reinforce the stringers, deck, and paint and do simple cosmetic and functional upgrades inside and out, etc...

It has a relatively tiny "cabin" up front that would make for great storage (and already contains a toilette). I also think I've got most of the materials that I would need to do it on hand...

The thing that I'm completely uncertain about the possibility of sealing the cockpit area and adding big enough scuppers in the rear to let the water out if I screwed up and took a good size wave on board. I'm assuming that the deck may need to come up a few inches (it's high already) and that aside from making some space for the fuel tank(s) and some storage, i'll want to fill the below decks with flotation foam.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience you have to share!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Who here has converted an older boat to a self bailing cockpit?

Mine is a self bailing 20' center console, the deck has to be sealed obviously and that cabin will need a dam that you'll trip over.
its got 2 x 1 inch open drain tubes on each side of the splashwell, the splashwell has its own drain. It doesn't have scuppers.

this is when I first dragged it home, the splashwell was missing.
the 2 drains on either side are hidden behind the strap buckles.
http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/jonesg_photos/my boat/?action=view&current=Volvo060.jpg

then I built a 3 sided splashwell backwall.
http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/jonesg_photos/my boat/?action=view&current=Volvo075.jpg


In this photo, look at the angle of the bilge access hatch, the deck area slopes down 4 inches in 24 inches of deck. You'll want to design something like that to move the water aft and keep it there.
http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/jonesg_photos/my boat/?action=view&current=Volvo059.jpg

Never taken a wave yet so I don't know how it works.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Who here has converted an older boat to a self bailing cockpit?

The cabin is so small, you're not going to do much of anything but store things and use the facilities... I will probably rearrange it to mainly allow toilette access and primarily storage.

here's a couple pictures of the hull I'm considering working with... The transom already has a high splashwell, and damning the "cabin" off would be straightforward...

Thanks for the ideas and the pictures...

 

[jonesg]

Re: Who here has converted an older boat to a self bailing cockpit?

Pick yer days carefully, use common sense and seamanship and that boat is fine as is. Some guys close the transom off and install brackets.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Who here has converted an older boat to a self bailing cockpit?

Thanks for the input. I'm actualy looking for a project out of this one.. I have an i/o set-up that works great for now, but was thinking this one would make a good project to redo / upgrade at my leisure...

Hear you on picking days... good and appropriate equipment, going with another boat when going very far out, paying attention to weather changes, etc...