Making it a bow-rider.

[Sleek-Jet]

I own a mid-70's Eliminator day cruiser with a Berk Jet... great boat, fantastic hull, it soaks up the afternoon swells on Roosevelt very well.

But I need more room. Since the boat is bought and paid for, I'm reluctent to sell it, which leaves modification.

What am I up against by cutting the non-skid out of the bow and making a V-bench to seat several people. If I cut the deck all the way back to the cockpit to make a walk through to the bow, what structural considerations do I need to contend with? In other words, will the hull need bracing side to side to make up for the deck not being in one piece. I know the steps in the deck would require vertical bracing to hold them up if/when a section is removed, but nothing a few pieces of polished stainless tubing wouldn't fix.

I'm tempted to make a small mid-cabin instead, leaving the step deck intact, but that would make it difficult for an adult to reach the bow area.

Based on the below pictures, I'd cut the duck out foward of the last "step" in the deck along the red gel-coat line, leaving a good 4 inches from the gunal to where the hole would be... if a walk through to the bow would be cut, I'd take a two foot wide chunk out of the steps right down the center of the boat.

Any suggestions or hints, questions of my sanity? :D

[Flat Broke]

If you do a search for Copterzach's DCM build, there are pictures that show how the deck is supported for an open bow during the build process. I would advise against poles to support the deck at the walkthrough and go with an actual pannel that more evenly distributes the load, and will provide way more rigidity. You then box off the front of the dash to the floor making each half of the dash pretty strong if done right. Id guess it'd actually be stronger than how your dash is setup right now.

From there you have an interior guy basically build the open bow seating that will just drop right into your hole.

If it was me, I'd probably go walk-through even though the deck is kinda tall. IMHO it would look funny with a cuddy/open setup because of the lines of the boat. Not to mention the fact that the walk-through will make the boat feel much more spacious.

Before you cut, I'd try like hell to find pictures of other step-deck boats that have been cut to see if it will work for you aesthetically.

Hope that helps,
Chris

[Sleek-Jet]

I've seen a few boats of this vintage that were either built as open bow, or converted later on. It's been a while though, I've been using my best google-fo to try and locate a few more recent pictures.

[Just Electric]

you wouldnt have happed to buy this boat from a guy named jerry would ya

[Luckie Stiff]

That's a totally doable project, as long as you plan your attack and follow it through. The first thing you'll need to do is support the structure that will be left after the cut. You HAVE to do this BEFORE you make the cut or you'll lose any of the structural integrity the bow and deck have.
Once you get that figured out, lay out your cut lines with tape, use some butcher paper to mock up what it's going to look like with the cut out. Stand back, look at your boat from all the angles imagineable, up close, from 20', 30' etc. Once you're happy with the layout, make your cuts.
I'd use an angle grinder with a cutting blade, and a shop vac hose taped to it right where it throws the debris. Once it's cut out, you're going to need to tie in the remaining deck to the supports you put itn. If you planned it right, this should be nothing more than a little glass work.
Once you've got it all cut out and re-glassed, lay out your seating, build the frames and take them to the upholstery shop. You may also want to look at a floor in the now open bow area.

Have fun, post up some progress pics.

[BajaMike]

I own a mid-70's Eliminator day cruiser with a Berk Jet... great boat, fantastic hull, it soaks up the afternoon swells on Roosevelt very well.


Any suggestions or hints, questions of my sanity? :D


Yea, I question your sanity.......leave that beautiful, classic boat alone!

:thumbsdown:box::blah::(

[Sleek-Jet]

you wouldnt have happed to buy this boat from a guy named jerry would ya

No, I bought it from the guy that Jerry/The Rev sold it to... :D

[Sleek-Jet]

Yea, I question your sanity.......leave that beautiful, classic boat alone!

:thumbsdown:box::blah::(

I haven't made my mind up yet, so don't worry. :thumbsup

[Gelcoater]

doing a cuddy will be easier. your dash/gauge placement will need some planning and gel repair if you go walk through.it can be done,but alot more work imo. good luck with this and post some pics of progress.:thumbsup

[Just Electric]

No, I bought it from the guy that Jerry/The Rev sold it to... :D

right on the titanic lives:thumbsup:D

[squirtnmyload]

Yea, I question your sanity.......leave that beautiful, classic boat alone!

:thumbsdown:box::blah::(

X1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000. but hey its yours and you need to do what works for your family. :)

[Sleek-Jet]

Man... that's a lot of zeros... :D

[squirtnmyload]

lol. :D

[RiverDave]

I'd cut the deck off that Sumbitch and make it a whaler!! :) :D (seriously!)

RD

[Gelcoater]

I'd cut the deck off that Sumbitch and make it a whaler!! :) :D (seriously!)

RD you drinkin already?:cool:

[Sleek-Jet]

I'd cut the deck off that Sumbitch and make it a whaler!! :) :D (seriously!)

RD

That idea has been advanced also...

[Flat Broke]

To be honest, Dave's whaler suggestion is actually one of your best aesthetically pleasing options imho.

Chris

[squirtnmyload]

To be honest, Dave's whaler suggestion is actually one of your best aesthetically pleasing options imho.

Chris

i agree.