38' gofast to 41' centerconsole outboard conversion

[shaperx1]

HI guys, Been lurking for a while off and on and have to say there are some good ideas and info on here.
I am a x fiberglass guy owned a manufacturing business for 15 years here in florida and have built everythinng from surfboards to airplanes, racecar parts and you name it I built it. Also have a 15'x35' oven/ autolclave for doing hightemp prepreg tooling and parts. Well had to give up the fiberglass work and now am a licensed captain for about 5 years doing deliveries and fishing charters here in Florida until my charter boat got stolen last year after the hurricanes gave us a spanking. I was told by a doctor 6 years ago that if I wanted to see 40 years old I had to change careers so I sold the shop and been fishing ever since. I have a real problem with foams they make me break out in a rash and give me asmatic symtoms. I am a guy who has the ability to take a block of foam and hand shape you anything you want to spects computer C&C machaines have a hard time holding hence my call sign on the net. I am the guy people would come to when noone else could figure out how to build what they wanted. From building over 10,000 surfboards paddle boards, rowing shells, sailboards, kiteboards, and testing many of them it has given me a eye for foils, curves and efficient planning surfaces. One thing I realy liked about surfboards is the fact I could build a new design then test it and change it in the next design. I designed 1 airplane from ground up that now fly and built 9 total and the one I designed and built the static plug for has such a low drag coefficent it actually had to have a set of air brakes installed because you could not slow it down when you come into the pattern for the airport it does not want to slow down. Unlike boats you can't change the hull design on every boat that comes out of a mold. Well thats enough about me

Well for my project. I bought a 1984 Wellcraft scarab 38 with twin 500hp 502's and plan on converting it to a center console outboard fishing boat.
Well I cannot decide on whether to make a 1 off mold on the floor with engine bracket or to build the plug in the boat which is the right way to do it but lots more time. I am also going to redo the stringer system to loose some wieght and add strength and build new fuel tank as well as reserve tank I figure I will put in the engine bracket. I want the mold to be a single piece and it is going to be quite large as a single unit but I like the floor to be one piece with the gunnels for strength and drainage if you stuff the bow. I plan on putting my water and waste tanks forward of CG for balance and efficency as well as ride. Its going to have the head under the console I am keeping the cuddy as it is in the stock boat. I am adding about 3 feet to the flat transome and considering cutting out the keel from about 16 feet from the stern to the first strake and adding a 12 deg keel pad to improve efficency and a built in motor bracket with set back and step up . I am not to worried about the pounding or ride the 55deg entry in teh scarab hull cuts through waves nice, but fuel ecconmy is important I considered diesels but I need a fast cruise we have to run 30 miles one way to fish out here and in the summer I regularly run 120 miles one way for tuna. I think built right I could get almost 2mpg out of a set of 250hp 4 strokes, I got that out of my marlago 35 with 2 strokes at 37-40mph cruise so thats what I am shooting for. From my old contender 35 the marlago got 1.25mpg better fuel ecconomy than my contender and when you burn 10,000 gal of fuel a year chartering that is some serious savings.
What do you guys think I have about 30 pages of blue prints and planning I have written up and the boat is about apart am I missing anything? Do you think I should build a keel pad into the scarab hull? I figure it will take me about 2.5 months to finish the cap install it and rig everything.
Well peace guys, Sorry for the novel,
Peace,
Shaperx1

[Ssor]

Shaper, Can't help you with you boat design needs, But from the sense of your post I think that you have changed you career path but not your frenetic life style. You sound like others that I have known that worked themselves into a coronary before they were fifty. Gosh I miss those guys.

[Capt. Chris]

shaperx1,
Welcome! I think the outboard bracket set up is the way to go. I have a project underway (28 topaz) that is getting converted to outboards. The only concern I would have is the 24 degree deadrise on the scarab hull. I too am a charter capt. and also in the old days ran a 30' scarab panther and up here in the north atlantic the deep vees are fantastic underway... but when you stop to fish, somebody ends up barfing! The boat we are rebuiding is a 15 degree bottom and are looking for a 30 kt cruise. The boat you are building is fast and with a 30" bracket , will be fuel efficient also. I always liked the look of the 38 kv, but could never afford one in the day. Good luck with you project, post some photos as progress is made - sounds interesting!

Tight lines Capt.

Chris

[shaperx1]

Yeah I know what you mean on the barfing from the roll of a deep Vee. Here in New Smyrna Beach we have to run 30 miles one way for 100ft of water and we get all these mini cells that we have to dodge and a boat that will cruise at 40 is important to me. I had a 35 marlago I used last year and I have worn out 2 contender 35's and in the spring and summer I do alot of Tuna trips last year was nice I was finding fish at 70 miles but usualy like you guys up north we run out 100 miles or more looking for birds with nice Yellow fin under them.
I have learned when people come on the boat I give a 10 minute speach on HOW NOT TO GET SICK, and hand out wristbands, ginger tabs, and bonine, and if I see some one getting greenish getting ready to set up a chum slick for us I give them something to do if we are trolling I set the pilot and hand them the wheel tell them to hold this compass course as soon as they grab that wheel they are fine. I do not run a mate so my charters are hands on I show em how to set lines use the reels and riggers and make sure everyone has something to do and I make up games like king of the boat. Thats where everyone gets a 30 min turn in the fight chair well in my boat the fight post ( my lean post has a seat faces backwards with flip up foot rest and gimble) And in their 30 minutes every fish that gets hooked is theirs and them being in the chair they are king of the boat and can order everyone around to get beers clean the deck or make their servents eat some ballyhoo. I used to have alot of people get sick on me now it rarely happens and keeping them busy and intertained make for a fun time "Good Tip" and repeat customers. I do my best to make sure everyone is having a good time even during the slow hot duldrums of trolling.
Tuna Time is just around the corner.
Peace,
CaptRon