Adding a boat deck?

[dbrowning]

I have the opportunity to buy a 15 foot fiberglass boat with bench seats for a good price that will fit my short shaft nissan motor. The bench seats that are on it look like a 2 by something sitting on a box. I've been toying with the idea of buying it and taking out the bench seats, adding a deck, a rod storage locker starboard, a livewell port side, a storage compartment up front for batteries and life jackets and two pedestal seats. I'd love some imput about whether this could be done, some ideas as to how and any other input someone might have on the subject. I'm handy with all the basic power and wood working tools, and anything I don't really know I'm good at learning. Thanks in advance for the advice!

[saltyseadog]

i wouldnt do it. save your money and just use it. save and buy the boat you really want:-"

[fishaholictaz]

If every thing is sound and water tight you could convert that to a deck very easy.... Your frame work is there just lower the benches and use them as the frame/support for the deck. You would want to cut the middle out of the middle bench and put your rod storage right up the gut. It wouldn't be as easy as it sounds but not to hard none the less...

[Bodofish]

Stand up on the seat and see if it's doable. A deck would probably put the CG way too high. Most boat with decks for standing are wide and heavy on the bottom.

[The Quadfather]

I am just getting into boat building. I know that your project isn't a wooden boat... but you might try and squeeze the design question into these guys. http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/ This is an awesome forum and resource of knowledgable (sp?) and friendly people. One of them is near you. (tell them the deck will be wood... just to keep them interested)
I would agree with Bodofishe's comment about the center of gravity if you kept the deck level the same level as the current benches. However if you lower the heigth of the box thing that the benches are on... and then build you deck over that at a lower total heigth, maybe you would be OK. Sound like a fun project. I am a believer that anything you can build yourself may bring you a different form of enjoyment than what you can buy.

[Gisteppo]

I might know a feller that could help you out with that project if you are interested. I may have messed around once or twice with boat projects. Hit me up if you end up buying the thing.

E

[dbrowning]

I bought the boat, too good of a price to pass up with trailer included. I was hoping to get a response from you E. Next time I'm out at my brother's place with the boat I'll try to get ahold of you and pick your brain as to what some options might be. Thanks.

Dave

[Gisteppo]

All you had to do was walk across the street...

I might even have enough scrap from the project I'm working on right now to hook you up with some MDO for free.

BTW, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time as the day I watched you and Keith take off like a shot after that lightning struck the power pole across the street on my property. I was out front tying lures for a trip on the front porch...

Edited to add: my wife was hanging with your wife at book club last night. We really should have fishing night once it gets lighter out when they are at that thing.

E

[dbrowning]

I'm going to have to blame that running thing on Keith. You know when you're standing next to someone and something happens and they do something or run and you think to yourself, "do they know something I don't?" That's what happened. Thanks a ton for volunteering to help out and hooking me up with some materials, I've drawn up some ideas I just need to see if they'll work. A fishing night will definitely have to happen. See ya