Partial roof on a 14ft f/glass speedboat

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by valvebounce, Nov 8, 2019.

  1. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Location: manchester uk

    valvebounce Senior Member

    I fish the Irish sea off north wales.Liverpool is nearer but launching into the river Mersey has too many restrictions.
    I launch out of Rhyl,or into the Menia straits.The straits are an any state of the tide launch,but it's over a 100 mile trip.Rhyl is 75 miles,but the tidal window is two and a half hours either side of high tide.
    The North sea is a trickier drive to get to,and takes longer.
    The front window would be one frame,one screen.I might do the same for the sides,but without any glass in them.
    With frames down the sides,I probably won't need supports at the aft of the roof.Like you say,if needed aluminium tube would be ideal.
    I've kept the engine down to a 2000 25hp Johnson,partly so there is not as much strain on the transom with the long mileage tow I have to make,plus,I don't need the speed,although the boat will do 20mph to 25mph.
    If you look at the yellow boat,the engine is obviously way to heavy,and the boat is too low at the stern.
    I think the max size engine the makers recommend is 40hp.The yellow boat has been done for top show,there's no way I would have payed the price he was asking.
     
  2. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Location: manchester uk

    valvebounce Senior Member

    25hp with fins 001.jpg 25hp with fins 001.jpg 25hp with fins 002.jpg 25hp with fins 003.jpg 25hp with fins 004.jpg 25hp with fins 005.jpg
     
  3. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Five pics of the boat,not the best of pics,but they might give you some idea.
    "V"
     
  4. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Thank you for these photos - they are useful. Do you have a photo showing the side profile of the boat?
    Re the height of the foredeck above the cockpit sole, I am guessing it is maybe about 2' (?)
    If so, then your cuddy cabin will be about 2'6" above the height of the foredeck.
    If you take a side profile photo of the boat (very level, so it is essentially seen in 2-D) and then print a copy of this photo, then you can sketch some ideas on it as to what you want your cuddy cabin to look like. If the photo shows the whole length of the boat, and you know it is 14' long, then you can calculate the scale that you will be drawing to re the cuddy.
    You could then take a photo of your sketch (or sketches even, re different versions) and post them on here.

    When you are bottom fishing, do you always anchor from the bow? If this is the case then it would be useful to build in a door or hatchway in the windscreen big enough so you can climb through easily to attend to the anchor - you don't want to be trying to climb along the side or even over the top of the cuddy.
     
  5. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    I always anchor from the bow,I have buddy line from the bow roller to the safety rail on the passenger side,I clip it on the anchor rope with the anchor buoy.I suppose I could incorporate a door,by making the front frame a 3 window cut out with the centre window having a hinged door.
    I'll take a pic full side on and level like you suggest,my brother will run me a few pics off with his laser printer.
    it's a long time since I worked out a drawing to scale,I was an experimental Toolmaker apprentice for General motors in Melbourne Australia in 1963/4.My dad was a deign draughtsman at A V Roes,English Electric and a few others.My Mum went out on the submarine in Barbados,she said it was one of the highlights in her life.
     
  6. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    By working with a buddy line, can you basically do everything from the cockpit (eg standing in the doorway of the windscreen) rather than having to venture out onto the foredeck? The anchor would have to be self stowing in the bow roller to allow this though.

    If you print a nice sideways view of the boat, take a rule and measure the length of the boat on the print. If it is on a standard A4 or letter size sheet, then the boat length might be about 8 inches. I think you said your boat is 14' long; that is 168 inches. Divide 168 by 8, and your scale is 1: 21.
    You can draw in a line on this print to show where the floor level is on the inside (take some measurements down to the floor from the gunwhale). And then just start sketching a cuddy to allow your minimum headroom required (I think it is 4'6") and see what it looks like. You can experiment with different angles of rake for the windscreen, roof length, even try a bit of rake on the roof (going upwards slightly from the windscreen), and different side panels / support pillars.

    Re your Mum's diving trip on the Atlantis submarine here, yes, it is an amazing experience, especially so for anybody who never been scuba diving or snorkelling before.
    Exciting Underwater Submarine Tours - Atlantis Submarines Barbados https://www.barbados.atlantissubmarines.com/
     
  7. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Location: manchester uk

    valvebounce Senior Member

    I store the anchor inboard and can set it from there.So there is no need for an anchor well or plate.I need to set up a guide from the bow safety rail to the anchor roller so the rope drops into the roller,(those ropes on the bow are doing the job at the moment)
    I'll follow your advice and get my brother to take the pics and run a few off to experiment with.
    Great ideas,much appreciated.
    I'll probably use a router to cut the window frames out,it's more accurate than a jigsaw.I think my brother still has my Dad's french curves,so they might come in handy.
    Raising the roof as it goes aft is a good idea,bit of racing car tech.
    Thanks for the submarine info,nice to see where my mum might have sat.
    "V"
     
  8. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    Location: hawaii, usa

    kapnD Senior Member

    I’d be inclined to fill in the rest of the transom cutout, you’ve raised the powerhead, but not the flood height.
    Many small boats in my area have tall, light dodger/windscreens added on, looks awkward, but apparently works out ok.
     
  9. kapnD
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    Location: hawaii, usa

    kapnD Senior Member


  10. valvebounce
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Location: manchester uk

    valvebounce Senior Member

    Hi,the splashwell still serves it's purpose,I raised the transom 4 inches to take a long shaft motor,it's now a 19" transom.
    I wanted the cavity plate 2" lower then the stern for stability in turning and rough water.
    If I fill in the transom,it would foul the steering.
    The boat steers form a sitting position,so the ones in your pics are much taller than the cuddy I plan on.
    Thanks for your input. "V"
     
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