building a mini speedboat

samleen18 · Friday at 11:09 AM

I'm making a mini speedboat/fishing vessel as a fun project and want to build in a center console with steering wheel, seat and throttle. It is an Avon rover r2.80 with an evinrude 9.9 (shaft rated), inflatable keel, and electric trolling motor. I am also going to install fishing pole holders and a mid mounted 10 gallon fuel tank/battery/inverter holder. what do you guys think? Its main use will be hopping around the san juan islands for camping.

mr 88 · Friday at 11:28 AM

So your not making anything, just adding stuff onto a RIB . Usually a inverter, 12 volt to 110 , drains the battery big time . Something I would forgo with the limited space you have . Other than that, it's your boat , customize it any way you want .

samleen18 · Friday at 11:42 AM

mr 88 said:
So your not making anything, just adding stuff onto a RIB . Usually a inverter, 12 volt to 110 , drains the battery big time . Something I would forgo with the limited space you have . Other than that, it's your boat , customize it any way you want .

I am modifying the transom to possibly take twin 9.9 engines. the entire deck will be redone by me in aluminum

Sprig · Friday at 11:44 AM

Looks like a fun boat but it’s not what I would want for cruising around the sound. That’s big water, gets rough out there when the winds blow. I’d stick to calm days and head for shore when the winds start.

Sprig · Friday at 11:46 AM

Just curious what’s the point of or advantage of twin 9.9’s?

briangcc · Friday at 11:47 AM

The specs I'm finding on that rib say its 9'3" with a max of 10HP. I'm not so sure I'd be tossing twins on that. Kinda sounds like a bad idea.

cyclops222 · Friday at 12:13 PM

A inflatable keel adds a lot of drag ? Going to be a no free space to move around in boat.
My 16' Aluminum is snug. I have laid on the bottom during a high wind squall. Did not feel safe.

mr 88 · Friday at 12:42 PM

samleen18 said:
I am modifying the transom to possibly take twin 9.9 engines. the entire deck will be redone by me in aluminum

No way would I be adding a aluminum deck on that . How would you safely secure it for starters . What's the purpose of it ? Trying to make a houseboat out of a kayak . Hold my beer .

tphoyt · Friday at 2:21 PM

Hate to be a party pooper but I don’t where to start so I’ll just say it’s sounds like trouble to me. Best of luck on your decision

JimS123 · Friday at 3:25 PM

tphoyt said:
Hate to be a party pooper but I don’t where to start so I’ll just say it’s sounds like trouble to me. Best of luck on your decision

I would not say "trouble", but certainly a lawyer's dream come true....

Sprig · Friday at 3:50 PM

Hate to say it but I think the OP is a youngster with a small inflatable , an old motor and grandiose but impossible plans and dreams. The ”project” makes absolutely no sense. If I’m wrong i apologize to the OP.

cyclops222 · Saturday at 6:40 AM

I designed a rental wood row boat to do 30 mph. Water logged. Made no difference to me then.
I was 13 ? 1950 ?
I dreamed up more gadgets than a Swiss Pocket knife.

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T10:26:10-0600

Sprig said:
Just curious what’s the point of or advantage of twin 9.9’s?

absolutely nothing other than that they're cool. I just have them and a 20hp is expensive

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T10:29:08-0600

mr 88 said:
No way would I be adding a aluminum deck on that . How would you safely secure it for starters . What's the purpose of it ? Trying to make a houseboat out of a kayak . Hold my beer .

it is a multi piece deck bolted to the transom to replace the water damaged wood one that only uses compressing against the rails. same basic design.

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T10:30:35-0600

Sprig said:
Hate to say it but I think the OP is a youngster with a small inflatable , an old motor and grandiose but impossible plans and dreams. The ”project” makes absolutely no sense. If I’m wrong i apologize to the OP.

I have the design drawn up in CAD. the aluminum deck will bolt in to the transom to provide the extra structure needed to support the weight . the original deck just uses tension/compression

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T10:39:22-0600

Sprig said:
Hate to say it but I think the OP is a youngster with a small inflatable , an old motor and grandiose but impossible plans and dreams. The ”project” makes absolutely no sense. If I’m wrong i apologize to the OP.

I am aware of it making no sense. I'm just having fun with the things I have. I am a relative youngster as I am turning 19 this month

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T10:59:10-0600

cyclops222 said:
I designed a rental wood row boat to do 30 mph. Water logged. Made no difference to me then.
I was 13 ? 1950 ?
I dreamed up more gadgets than a Swiss Pocket knife.

I have always made inventions since I could hold a wrench. I am 19 this month. don't worry, I already have all of my safety gear (marine radio, PFD, flare gun with marine flares, emergency strobe, air horn, patch kit, tool kit, spare parts, first aid kit, emergency blanket, extra clothes in a dry bag, electric motor) the Puget sound is no joke sometimes

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T11:04:58-0600

JimS123 said:
I would not say "trouble", but certainly a lawyer's dream come true....

I agree. I am getting my boat re certified by the coast guard when I am done with my structural modifications which include trim tabs, bolting the deck to the transom, gussets for the transom. definitely sticking with my trusty 9.9 and not going over due to legal and safety reasons

samleen18 · 2025-05-12T11:05:58-0600

briangcc said:
The specs I'm finding on that rib say its 9'3" with a max of 10HP. I'm not so sure I'd be tossing twins on that. Kinda sounds like a bad idea.

not going to do twins after reading that info.

Scott Danforth · 2025-05-12T13:22:12-0600

every pound of weight you add to the boat takes away what you can put in the boat. so adding a deck, means you dont bring fishing gear, etc.

the weight carrying capacity is determined by testing, or by the CFR 33, part 183. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-183

you cant carry more weight then listed

samleen18 said:
I agree. I am getting my boat re certified by the coast guard when I am done with my structural modifications which include trim tabs, bolting the deck to the transom, gussets for the transom. definitely sticking with my trusty 9.9 and not going over due to legal and safety reasons

building a mini speedboat

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Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats