Aluminum wooden hybrid boat

I have it in my head that I would really like to build something like the Jon L Squirt. A little 10-12' runabout two seater with a 20-30hp just for cruising around the lake.

Squirt https://www.glen-l.com/10-Squirt-runabout/products/360/



I'm pretty comfortable with wood working, but it seems to me I could cut down the work load by pickup up a cheap deep v hull aluminum jon boat, moving the transom up 4' or so depending on the donor boat, and building wooden decking and console similar to the squirt. Then I get the stunning looks of the wooden boat, but the durability of an aluminum hull.

Any reason why this is an insane idea? I could only find one other post about a similar idea, and there were only one or two responses discussing weight (these jons are rated for like 640 capacity, less if cut obviously) but if solid wood boats of the same size can be built I'm not sure if that would present an actual issue. The dimensions seem about the same, and the hull shape is not too far off either. Thoughts?


edit: similar concept, chop the end off a wooden sailboat and build a transom to save time. Is this also an awful idea if I can find something with a hull shape similar to the above?

 

Depending on the configuration of the bottom’s running surfaces, you can run into problems with just lopping off 4’ from the transom.
The designed balance between lateral stability and smooth entry will be disturbed, and the load carrying capacity will be significantly reduced.
There’s nothing wrong with customizing an aluminum hull with wood components, as long as weight is not excessive.

 

Wood and aluminum often cause corrosion issues. If you need a boat that is 4 feet shorter, why not buy a shorter boat?

 

I am leaning towards a 12' if I can find one deep enough to accommodate the sitting position, which I may not cut at all once I get a feel for the size of the boat in person. The squirt does seem a hair small, but I also don't have a huge garage for storage which is my main reason for leaning towards a 10'. I'd think that cutting 2' would be less disruptive, but these jon boats also have a more sharply swept keel than the squirt which does concern me a little bit, but there's plenty of videos of 12-14' jons running pretty smoothly.

If a cheap 10' with a deep v hull pops up on my local craigslist I will definitely hop on it! I dont think many such boats exist and likelihood of one becoming available near me is pretty low. If I don't use PT wood and epoxy seal it corrosion is not an issue right?

 

If you cut 4 feet of the aft end, the boat will have little stability. The section of hull left has a deep vee. If you are good with wood work, a plywood boat of a good desing would run better.

 

Apologies if I'm missing something obvious, I'm a car guy not a boat guy, but why would the stability be much different than the 10' Squirt, which has a very similarly shaped hull? The angle of these jon boats, at least to my eye from photos, has an even sharper curve than the squirt, which would result in a flatter bottom than the squirt, such that I'd be worried it would be even more stable and not cut through the water as well.

I'm not opposed to just building the squirt, but it would save a lot of time and money to start with an aluminum hull, and I think would save me some of the maintenance that comes with a wooden hull.

 

I think I see what you mean in this photo though, the bottom is not as flat as I imagined. I thought maybe the ones I had looked at for sale had a shallow V such that the depth was almost the same across the width of the boat. I think this would cause issues with seating as well.

If I was able to source a boat with a flatter bottom, do you think that resolves the issues?

 

Stability will undoubtedly change, but with the current data it is impossible to know whether it is increasing or decreasing. In any case, criteria for evaluating this stability must be established (transverse, longitudinal?). Without knowing these criteria, comparisons cannot be made and no one should guarantee anything.

 

Certainly makes it seem like less of a good idea though particularly if I don't have a passenger and have my fairly large self on one side of the boat

 

A 10 or 12 foot boat with 20 to 30 hp is overkill. A boat of that size will go plenty fast with one of the several 9.9 hp outboards. If your main criteria is speed then you need to think about a different type of boat. chopping off the after part of a boat is asking for trouble which is a pretty near certain outcome.

Tell us what your main requirements are ......stability, speed, maneuverability, camping , will the boat be left in the water or will it live on a trailer, what are the normal sea state conditions that you will encounter ? All those things matter when you are choosing a boat.

 

I'm not really sure how to quantify stability and maneuverability, but Id like to not fall in while I'm playing around in it. Top speed, maybe 25-30 with a passenger? It will be trailered in a garage, but I wouldnt mind being able to beach it (another reason I was looking at the aluminum boats). I won't be taking it in the ocean, just local lakes and rivers with fairly calm water, just wake from other boaters.

 

If you want 30 mph from 25 hp and a dead simple plywood build for short money, why not a Bolger Diablo? It would be easier than modifying a jon boat and you will know exactly what to expect from it.

If you want a 10 ft boat that looks like half of an aluminum skiff, look at the free plans for The Thing on svensons.com. As for stability, the description says that with anything over 10 hp "The Thing assumes control".

 

I also enjoy a good project and the beauty of something with a full wooden deck light the squirt just really appeals to me. I would probably just buy and enjoy a cheap jetski if I wasn't hung up on having a pretty boat

 

The hull section at the stern is what supports your outboard motor, if you cut lots off, and run a big O/B, the bow will point in the air, and handling will likely be terrible.

 

You want to go fast with a short stubby boat? Sounds like an AU class Utility Racer.
Atkin & Co. - Lipperty Lip
You want something that's actually useful and can be built by a first-time builder without high cost or stress?
Atkin & Co. - Jebb