68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

[ssmith32256]

I have a 1968 Glastron, 20 ft cuddy with a Mercruiser 120 IO that I recently bought. Before I go any further let me warn you that the boat, with running engine and "Gator" trailer set me back a whopping $300.00. Given my considerable investment you can understand that I had extremely high expectations. After a basic inspection I determined that the floor (at least) would need to be replaced. The boat had no seats and no gas tank (at least not installed) the seller tossed one in that he had salvaged from another boat. There was no battery and the gauges were all inoperable.

I determined that I wanted to convert this vessel to a center console. More on my reasoning a little later. I will post some photos of what the boat looked like when I got it and I will continue to post as work progresses.

PS- If you haven't already you owe it to yourself to read Maxum 247's thread detailing his conversion from cuddy to bowrider to center console. I hope to do mine 1/2 as well as he did.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Looks like a stringer and transom job, pull the engine and all that.?

 

[allpoints360]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Do you plan to keep the I/O power or go to an outboard?

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Is that going to be comfortable being converted to a center console? I guess it is big enough looking at the other two consoles. She is a nice looking boat in need of some love.

Seems strange to go center console for that boat but in reality I guess it would be a good candidate.

 

[ssmith32256]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Yes I intend to keep the IO. It doesn't really fit the typical CC look but it is sound and I am hoping that the engine compartment won't interfer with the fishing space too much.

 

[ssmith32256]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Its worth mentioning that when I bought the boat I intended for it to be a project. No big shock there ...... One of my reasons for settling on the CC configuration is that the "Cuddy" in 1968 was in reality just a covered bow. There is no real function for that space. Here are some more pics of the "floor". I removed most of it about 2 weeks ago. I have also pulled the outdrive for a "freshen up." I intend to pull the engine soon, for 3 reasons. 1)I want to removeand replace the entire floor and stringers down to the shell. 2) I want to remove the transom plate and gimbal ring to do some fiberglass work of the transom. 3) I want to clean and paint the engine while I have it out for purely cosmetic reasons..... Oh yeah I almost forgot after I get the new floor and new gunwales completed and the hull completely sanded I'm going to paint the entire boat (white top and bottom with cobalt blue between the waterline and the rub rail)

Thanks for looking and as always thanks for the constructive feedback.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Sounds like a plan.
The bow area adds rigidity , a casting platform/anchor locker will compensate for the loss of the bow decking.

Thats not an engine cover, its your new bait station.

Watch this slideshow for excellent ideas on how to go about the project, this guy is quite talented.

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

 

[maxum247]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Yes I intend to keep the IO. It doesn't really fit the typical CC look but it is sound and I am hoping that the engine compartment won't interfer with the fishing space too much.

From the picture's it looks like you shouldn't loose much more fishing room than if you had an outboard with a splash well built in.
It may be worth considering leaving the dash as it is removing the windsheild and building a bulkhead to close in under the dash area and doing some cosmectic work to the dash where the guages and steering wheel are, that way if you decide later you don't like the center console option you could easily go back to the original speed boat version with a windsheild and seats.

Wear your respirator and eye protection at all times! Have fun and keep it safe!

max!

 

[ssmith32256]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Ok time for an update. I have removed almost all of the floor and i intend to remove and replace the stringers. I would like to take it all the way down to bare hull. I also went ahead and removed the windshield and cut out the "cuddy" and the 2 consoles. I have attached some photos.

 

[ssmith32256]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Here are a few more pics after the cuddy was cut out.

 

[ssmith32256]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Foam or No Foam, That is the question.

I'm almost done stripping the boat to bare hull and I going to start replacing the stringers. I'm trying to plan ahead and I can't decide rather to put pour in foam below the deck. Keep in mind this is a 1968 Glastron and as far as I can tell there is no drainage hole from the area under the floor into the IO bilge. I would like to think that this area will be free of water and that any water above the deck will run toward the back of the boat and into the IO bilge. I would like to use the foam to make the hull more sturdy and to insulate around the fuel tank that sets underneath the floor. My concern is that the area will get wet and soak the foam. If water does get below the deck somehow, how will that affect the foam ? Also if I do use foam should I use 2lb, 3lb, 4lb or 8lb ?

Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

2lb foam will work fine or get the foam boards from home depot/lowes and install them under the new DECK

It's a deck not a floor!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

It seems a very reasonable project & i promise you if you get er dun you'll never regreat changing her to a CC

 

[system-f]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

I am not a fisherman, but I love functional fishing rigs and this looks like it is going to be one. In my area there are tons of 'go fast' motors that happen to have boats on them and I guess they are cool, but I always stop to look at the tin hull that is super functional or the fiberglass job redone to fish from.

 

[venxxxxx]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

bump... any updates ?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 68 Glastron to Center Console conversion

Thread is dead m8 .. Mods just have not found you bumped it yet ..

I'll bump for a lock.

YD.