12ft Aluminum Modifications

[jakeeezy]

Trying to get others opinions on what I've been battling myself over for the last while I have a nice 12ft aluminum boat that I am debating on removing all the seats and adding a deck throughout the boat. Front area is where I'm aiming to have a storage compartment which will keep the 12v for the fish finder and the trolling motor, Should I maybe ad the gas tank to the front instead of the back?. trolling motor and my 6hp outboard are at rear of boat. and I'm thinking about a pedestal seat in the center.

So this is what it comes down to is it worth it to do this with a 12ft boat, will the boat be able to stay balanced enough with the deck deck will be as low as I can get it into the hull, and is this going to be too much weight onto the boat making this an unsafe ride.

anyways if others could give me their two cents on this I'd really appreciate it

 

[roscoe]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

Welcome to iboats jake.


The seats in that boat are structural support parts.

Raising the center of gravity even a few inches will increase the instability you already have.
Raised seats will raise the center even more.
It will be difficult to run the motor from above.
Too much weight in the front will make it plow.
Adding another 100# is a lot for that boat.

Been there, done that, -- never again.

 

[jakeeezy]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

lets say I keep the front and middle seats remove the back seat turn it into two aluminum beanch seats one on each side of the boat. then add a deck between the center and front seat and the back half and added the storage box to the front. If I were to maintain the same structural balance and stay under the weight limit would this be a possible success? or a failure with good intentions lol

 

[mommicked]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

Im no expert, but I think you should just get a bigger boat and leave this one as it is and enjoy it.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

A 12 footer is too small for the setup you're suggesting and, as already mentinoed, the seats are structrual. In addition, you can't put the fuel tank in front as the run of fuel line would be too long.

I'd suggest leaving this boat as is and if you want to convert a boat to a flat floor, find a 14 foot Lund.

Grouse

 

[roscoe]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

You can do it, but I think when you will not end up with the boat function you are in search of.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 12ft Aluminum Modifications

You can put the gas in the front and it will do fine, had a 12'er years ago and always kept the gas up front as well as the battery, it is vertical rise that the pump can't overcome distance is fine once it is primed.

Having said that, take a peice of ply wood and lay it across the seats then take the boat out on the water and stand on the plywood and you will have your answer, it is going to be way to unstable to be usable or safe for that matter, the hull is just too small for what you want to do with it.