small wheelhouse construction

[wiremucox]

hi i have a 6 metre sail boat thats been converted to a motor boat. sails and mast removed keel gone too. i want to make a small wheelhouse where i steer from. will use plywood and fibre glass i think. any ideas suggestions would be welcome. il try and add a photo?

[gonzo]

Have you had the boat in the water? With the ballast removed, adding more weight on top is not a good idea.

[wiremucox]

yes had the boat in the water and seems to handle well , was only going to add a small lightweight wheel house, maybe out of ply and glassed over. how do i add photos to my questions? thanks bill

[Boat Design Net Moderator]

Originally Posted by wiremucox

how do i add photos to my questions? thanks bill

Click "Go Advanced" on the quick reply or start your reply with the larger blue post reply button. Then click "manage attachments" and select the jpg files to upload from your computer. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/faq...chment_explain

[PAR]

A small wheelhouse will be fine, assuming the boat currently sits level on her lines. The removal of the rig shouldn't affect her weight much, but the keel might. What did the keel weigh approximately? If it was less then a few hundred pounds (130 kilo), they don't worry about it.

1/4" (6 mm) plywood will work wonderfully for your doghouse. It can be covered in a light weight cloth, say anything between 2 and 10 ounces will do. The cloth just water proofs and adds abrasion resistance, but no significant strength. Use 1x2's (20 x 40 mm) or 2x2's (40 x 40 mm) "studs" in the walls and roof beams. Keep things light as Gonzo points out; you don't want much weight up high or it can upset the stability curve a great deal.

[wiremucox]

thanks have uploaded a photo somewhere!