1980 Alumacraft bulkhead

[tink65]

I am restoring a 1980 15ft alumacraft wide body fishing boat that was poorly done several times, but I got for cheap. It is stripped of floors, foam, and all the body filler hiding some extensive (and professionally welded) stern and hull damage, ready to weld some screw holes that were skipped when the PO bondo'ed over the mess. It'll be used almost exclusively for bass fishing so I want to make it as fisherman friendly of a deck layout as possible, meaning under deck rod storage pending opinions on this question-
The hull has five stringers running from transom to a bulkhead, length of 6'1". There is a second bulkhead spaced 15" from the first, and a bench seat spaced 15 from the middle bulkhead. If I were to cut out the first bulkhead from either side of the centerline stringer (to acommodate 7' rods) how would that effect the rigidity of the hull? Would it be better for me to extend that stringer o meet the second bulkhead?

 

[bonz_d]

Not picturing this in my mind, any way you could post up some real pictures?

 

[tink65]

Sorry if there's a glare, the sun is in just the right spot. I want to cut away thebulkhead on either side of the center striner, unless that will compromise the hull too much

 

[bonz_d]

That is structural, I wouldn't do it. Honestly I don't think I would even try cutting holes to run tubes thru. But that's just my opinion.

How about redecking it and then building up a raised deck to put your rod storage? A second deck raised even 6" should give plenty of rod storage and not compromise the hull..

 

[jbcurt00]

I would rather punch 2 round holes thru that bulkhead then raise the deck height enough to accommodate rod storage.

But I definitely wouldn't remove the bullkhead

 

[tink65]

Im with jbcurt, The deck/sub deck idea is iffy. If I went along that line, I would lay 1x2 along all mounting surfaces except the part I want to use for rods, effectively only raising deck height 3/4 of an inch, and rest the rods on that bulkhead
And rod tubes are no good :/ the boat has the shelf piece along the transom like a larger boat. I wouldn't be able to lift the butt of the rod up and over to pull a foot of rod tip out of the tube.
I guess I'm curious as tho why there are so many bulkheads stacked so close in the front half of the boat. The bench counts as 2, there are actually two more ahead of it in the bow, that makes 6 bulkheads in 8 feet. And why only stringers in the back half? When its decked, that gives it the rigidity? my old aluminum 14ft noly has two bench seats and thats it for hull support

 

[g0nef1sshn]

What if you just do a slight lift to the deck right where what I think your calling the bulk head is where the rod tips would have room to slide over the top, but still remain under the deck? Cut that cent stringer back a foot so the tips wont catch. and put a slope up to it so the tip slide up into the spot? So there isnt a lip to trip on with the deck being slightly higher tapper it down to a slight slope.

Just an idea if I understand your intentions correctly.

 

[bonz_d]

Those must be some extremely long rods if you need storage that goes from the bow to the stern. I believe that shelf you talk about in the rear is call a splash well which is used to keep water out of the boat when it comes over the transom.

If you really need storage that long I only see 2 options, either under the deck or on the sides with hinged door covers.

You ask why there are so many stringers and bulkheads. They are there because they are part of the structure adding strength and rigidity. My 16' Alumacraft Classic is built the same way and w/o that support there is no way it would have the weight capacity or the HP capacity that it has. My 16' Alumacraft has a HP rating of 75HP. Also the way all those stringers and bulkheads are built they provide the means to attach the plywood decking for the flat deck and add strength over-all at the same time. Even the lesser built hulls have ribs riveted in the bottom at about the same spacing

On another note, myself and a good number of people I know and associate with would not buy a used aluminum hull that has had the physical structure of the hull altered. That meaning bulkheads cut up, or bench seats that are part of the structure removed. But it is yours and you are free to do whatever mods you feel comfortable with.