Conversion from trailer-sailer to low power motor boat

[Dr. Peter]

OK forum - opinions please. My Hartley 18 does not have a forward hatch. It would make the boat more comfortable to work and sleep in if it did. How should I go about sourcing and fitting one. I am also a bit interested in retrofitting a slot-top like the AF4 - would this be a step too far?
Peter

[PAR]

The slot top would compromise much of the deck and cabin strength. I wouldn't recommend it.

A forward hatch is a simple thing to make and doesn't require a lot of difficult joinery. On the other hand you can buy one (bring a big purse, they ain't cheap) and follow the instructions inside. On a boat that size, I'd use 1x2's for the edges and a piece of plywood bent over it, for the top. You could install a prism for light below if desired.

[Dr. Peter]

Apologies for not responding sooner - I think a home-made hatch would be a better option. The Hartley has two quite simple hatches at the back of the cockpit - they are basically a wooden lid held down with an ocky strap. It would be fairly simple to emulate these.
Peter

[Dr. Peter]

Originally Posted by Dr. Peter

After using the rudder-motor combination I have since refitted the original tiller and rudder and off-set the outboard back in its original position to the starboard side of the transom. The set-up is more sensitive and I can steer standing up.

Peter

The tiller is gone again and I am back to a centrally-placed outboard. It works better this way on the river. The big rudder was better in the bay.

[tinkz]

as af4 gets mentioned yet again.. lol I wanna build one!

I do like your camper, and have though about converting a small fiberglass cabin sailboat for power (if I find one for near nothing thats appropriate to start with), grafting foam, luan, and fiberglass to change the hulls shape for slow planing, but honestly, I could probably just go ahead and build a new af4 cheep enough.
what you have for power now, would probably just shove it (af4) up onto a slow plane.

[Dr. Peter]

This was a trailer sailer once, Tinkz

http://yachthub.com/list/boats-for-s...-cruiser/65505

Beautiful job.

Peter

[Dr. Peter]

Its happened - after nine months of ruminating and the boat sitting there unused because it did not properly fit the purpose. I bought a circular saw and cut the slot top.

I then had to build up and extend the runners for the hatch to return some lost strength. Not too hard - I love West System. I would not want to stand on it but it serves, especially on a river where we get up on the boat rather stepping down on it.

I have chopped the ends from the old mast to use as a beam to support a tarp and insect mesh for camping under.

The boat does not even look that strange. How unusual is a sailboat with the mast carried horizontally?

Still working on it. But happy times in the shed.

What got me going was some U Tube footage on the AF4 and Skiff America. My boat does not perform like these but the idea is similar. Credit to them.

Peter

[Dr. Peter]

Is this what I have - a terminal trawler?
Nudge
Has any one else done this?
Peter