Converting closed bow to open bow.

[Dettom]

Thinking about converting my closed bow Advantage 27’ Victory, into an open bow with a complete interior upgrade. Has anyone here, had experience with that? I’d want it done right but have no idea the costs etc or who anyone recommends to do it, although I know it ain’t cheap. I love the boat, don’t want to buy a pontoon yet, and I think this would make it more user friendly, especially around docks. Pros/cons?

P

 

[J&k beer can]

we had a mid cabin victory.
way easier to get in and out of.. make sure the opening fits you if your bigger person..
i would think your 6-8k maybe more in todays market..

 

[OC Mike]

This came out nice.

The journey of our Hallett 270T

So, with all this virus crap, and the other Hallett threads, I figured I'd post the journey of our Hallett 270T. As the story goes, we were on Mead and got our asses kicked in our little deck boat. On our drive home, the wife and I were talking about boats and she asked what boats were best...

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[motormonkey]

Mid cabins look like the best all around.

 

[OC Mike]

Mid cabins look like the best all around.

We think so. We've done just about everything with our 270S.
Tube, Wake, Ski, Camp, picnic, Cruise...
Powell, Mead, Havasu... Mostly Mead.
Is it the best at any of that, not really, but we get it done.
Cruises very nice....

I was a closed bow guy forever, then I had a family....
Lot's of good memories

 

[Dettom]

We think so. We've done just about everything with our 270S.
Tube, Wake, Ski, Camp, picnic, Cruise...
Powell, Mead, Havasu... Mostly Mead.
Is it the best at any of that, not really, but we get it done.
Cruises very nice....

I was a closed bow guy forever, then I had a family....
Lot's of good memories

I’m of the same mind. I like the look of a closed bow especially on boats over 26’. But the reality is, I’m never going to stay overnight in it and it’s a pain in the ass to get on and off of on the beach and docks are a bitch too. I’m just over it.

 

[Warlock1]

We did an MCOB conversion on a 27 ft Warlock. Made it a completely different boat. Way more useful and easy to get around. Awesome lounge spot for the ladies.
It was 5k for the upgrade.

 

[floatn turd]

I’m of the same mind. I like the look of a closed bow especially on boats over 26’. But the reality is, I’m never going to stay overnight in it and it’s a pain in the ass to get on and off of on the beach and docks are a bitch too. I’m just over it.

What about just adding an big "access hatch" of some kind?

You'll keep the look.
Save your $.
And
Get the result you want.

 

[AZLineman]

I have thought about doing this as well even tho i am a closed bow guy. If i could find someone to do it “right” for 5k ish i would immed. Unfortunately i did some checking around Havasu and have been quoted between 10 and 15k.

 

[Dettom]

I h

What about just adding an big "access hatch" of some kind?

You'll keep the look.
Save your $.
And
Get the result you want.

I have a hatch, it’s a big round one on top. I can get up through with no problem but it just doesn’t offer the utility of an open bow. Plus, you don’t know how many times I’ve fantasized about mounting a 50 cal machine gun there....

 

[shunter2005]

Did my Hallett 270 when I bought it 5 yrs ago. No regrets. I don't go up there, but my wife likes it.

I may be wrong, but doesn't Advantage have two sizes of open bow openings? I seem to remember that there is a small and a larger cut out. Maybe not, but if so, I'd opt for the bigger one.

 

[BUDMAN]

we had a mid cabin victory.
way easier to get in and out of.. make sure the opening fits you if your bigger person..
i would think your 6-8k maybe more in todays market..
View attachment 992658

Not including an interior upgrade I would think.

 

[shunter2005]

Not including an interior upgrade I would think.

My conversion was a little less than $5K turnkey in '16. I would guess that would be around $7K now at the local shops and have heard that the manufacturers would be a lot more. I got mine done at ARCO when Bill's shop was in the Conquest factory.