Would this work?

[electric603]

Can I remove the top cap and cuddy off of this boat and make it a center console or is the cap part of the structure the way it is in fiberglass boats?
It's hard to see in the photo but this is an aluminum boat.

 

[jigngrub]

Yes it will work... depending on your skill-set.

The cap is part of the structure, but you can add a deck up front to replace the structural support you lose when you remove the cabin cap... you'll probably want to do that anyway.

Post more pics so we can better see what you have to work with and give you the best advice.

 

[electric603]

I don't own this boat, just considering buying it and making it into a center console.

 

[electric603]

One more

 

[jigngrub]

If the boat is wide enough to give you enough room around the CC I say go for it. For me the width of a boat is what makes it suitable or not for a CC, not having enough access to move around the console from the back to the front quickly if needed is the deciding factor in my book.

 

[Ned L]

Sure you could do it. .... As was mentioned above, you would most likely need to add a significant shear clamp. Something to consider is that this aluminum hull is probably fairly light (weight), and with the soft chines you may find that it is quite tender when walking around the side of the console. --- Meaning that with the round bottom the boat will tip quite a bit when walking around the console.

 

[Watermann]

Anything is possible I guess but your chances of success would be greater if you started looking for a say a Starcraft Mariner or SN Striper that are already in the CC configuration.

 

[electric603]

Sure you could do it. .... As was mentioned above, you would most likely need to add a significant shear clamp. Something to consider is that this aluminum hull is probably fairly light (weight), and with the soft chines you may find that it is quite tender when walking around the side of the console. --- Meaning that with the round bottom the boat will tip quite a bit when walking around the console.

Yes, I did not notice the soft chimes. Perhaps do a dual console instead. I'm just thinking that the cuddy is ugly and it takes up useable space.

 

[Ned L]

Ahh, but you might appreciate that little cuddy cabin if you get caught in a rail storm!

 

[jc55]

What about the Sport Craft? (welcome back!)

 

[electric603]

What about the Sport Craft? (welcome back!)

It still sitting in my yard in the same condition it was in at the beginning of last winter. I did not get to touch it all summer. That's why I am contemplating this boat. Since there is no fiberglass I can work on it in the cold. I really want to have a useable boat in the spring. How has your sportcraft been performing?

 

[jc55]

It's been great...a fun little ride. What were you thinking about for the gunwales on your aluminum boat? Is the cab aluminum too? Forming those may be a little tricky?

 

[electric603]

It's been great...a fun little ride. What were you thinking about for the gunwales on your aluminum boat? Is the cab aluminum too? Forming those may be a little tricky?

I,m not sure. I hadn't thought about that yet. Just trying to see if it's feasible. I am just getting impatient because I did not get to touch the sportcraft this summer. I may just by a small 12 or o foot aluminum boat for cheap money in the fall. Then I will at least be able to get on the water and fish next spring while I am finishing the sportcraft.

 

[jbcurt00]

I think its a glass cab on an aluminum hull

 

[mercurymang]

I like the look of that boat. It seems that the 50 horse on the back there is a little on the small side but maybe not. Just have to wait and see I suppose.

 

[jc55]

The reason I ask is that there will be intensive fiberglass custom work for the gunwales to flow from stern to bow. It's one thing to throw a couple of layers of 1708 over a plywood stringer, it'd be another (IMO) to fabricate all of those layers topside, then fair, gelcoat or paint. Remember when I cut the splash panel on my C_Gull? That was ridiculous to get perfect and needed a heated space...

I hear ya on being "boatless". I'm burning the candle at both ends to get all of this glass work done myself.

 

[electric603]

jc, your right about the fiberglass. More than I would want to take on, I still have a have the sportcraft to finish. Also the fiberglass work would defeat the purpose of getting an aluminum boat to work on over the winter. I am definitely leaning toward just getting a 12 footer to have for next spring.