1972 Starcraft Arrow closed bow conversion

[Aaronphoto70]

Hello,

This is my first forum post ever. I'm going to add a fishing deck and live well to the front of my 14' boat. I've reviewed other similar projects and I think my buddy and I have the skill set to get this done. Hoping to get this done about 3 or 4 weeks time and i have about a grand left to spend.

I found that the fiberglass flooring is cracked and a piece has broke through under the bow, probably from me using that space as storage. So I bought a roll of fiberglass and some resin for that repair.

I taped off where we are thinking of cutting. Going to use a jigsaw. Bought a diamond cutting blade and a general purpose blade.

Had to switch steering systems because this boat used the cable and pulley system right across the dash. Bought a new teleflex system instead and it will get here next week.

Any thoughts and or concerns anyone sees? I mean this is doable right? If possible we wanted to post this first and get some feedback before starting.

Thanks

 

[buxmj]

That looks like a cool runabout you are going to alter, extensively. Just my opinion but why cut this one up and not just buy a bass boat? After doing a total cut and gut on my runabout that is also 14' and similar construction, I really don't think your hull will keep its shape under tow and thus be very dangerous. I took the cap off mine and there is no support for the hull from side to side without the cap. It looks like you will be taking that support completely out. The dash and front deck give these boats most of their topside structure, taking that out could be a dangerous mistake. I am no engineer, just giving my .02.

 

[Aaronphoto70]

I would love to buy a bass boat but I don't have that much cash on hand. This is my $400 boat and it's gonna be for a while I think lol

I was hoping to provide that support back through a raised deck design. Although not sure how until I think it through and draw up plans for the deck. I have some engineering background, just no boat modification experience.

I hoped that if I leave enough around the edge of the boat, there is room for some options to mount support. I'm cautiously optimistic there is a way. No cutting though until I'm sure.

 

[briangcc]

Having had a 15' closed bow, might I offer the following...

I don't think there's as much space as you think there is once you start cutting. These boats are awfully narrow so I'm not sure you're going to be happy with the additions you're looking to add up front. There simply isn't enough realestate to do it. And if you did, it'd be mighty tippy.

IF you go through with it, you're going to have to tie vertical supports for either side of the dash into the floor so the dash doesn't flop around. The new platform will need to be structurally tied into the sides of the boat to add some rigidity back. Then you have to deal with the open edges of the cut made in the bow, probably some sort of vertical support running down to the floor would be in order.

There have been some seasoned boaters, I'm looking at you @archbuilder with project Fuggly, that it took an awful lot of time to do the custom fab work to get it looking good and structurally sound - much longer than the anticipated timeline mentioned in your opening.

I'd echo everyone else...I'd offload this boat and look for a purpose built fishing machine.

 

[Aaronphoto70]

Having had a 15' closed bow, might I offer the following...

I don't think there's as much space as you think there is once you start cutting. These boats are awfully narrow so I'm not sure you're going to be happy with the additions you're looking to add up front. There simply isn't enough realestate to do it. And if you did, it'd be mighty tippy.

IF you go through with it, you're going to have to tie vertical supports for either side of the dash into the floor so the dash doesn't flop around. The new platform will need to be structurally tied into the sides of the boat to add some rigidity back. Then you have to deal with the open edges of the cut made in the bow, probably some sort of vertical support running down to the floor would be in order.

There have been some seasoned boaters, I'm looking at you @archbuilder with project Fuggly, that it took an awful lot of time to do the custom fab work to get it looking good and structurally sound - much longer than the anticipated timeline mentioned in your opening.

I'd echo everyone else...I'd offload this boat and look for a purpose built fishing machine.

Ack! OK. I talked to some boat body shops too. This will take longer than expected. I need the boat to fish this season so I guess I'll just do the floor repair and new steering. Use the boat to fish this season. Maybe I can build a temporary deck that sits on top of bow just for this season.

I'm going to try to sell the boat. My problem is that I only have a brand new 2018 15hp Tohatsu outboard and this boat. I need 3k to get into another boat. Don't see how I'll be able to get that kind of cash out of this boat and that motor. Gonna post the outboard for sale separately and then the boat for sale as a project boat. Dunno what else I can do..

Any recommendations on how to get the most out of this situation?

 

[Wildey]

Maybe I can build a temporary deck that sits on top of bow just for this season.
Any recommendations on how to get the most out of this situation?

You'll probably need a small intermediate step to get up on the deck. Mix some black beauty blasting grit with some paint, or gelcoat, mask off and coat the existing deck for anti skid and just fish from that. That is if, the arch is not too uncomfortable, the ridges /grooves don't bug ya and of cours if it will hold your weight.

 

[briangcc]

I'd just fish as is. I only see (1) swivel chair in the photo so its not like you're contending with a bench seat taking up floor space. You pretty much have a casting deck as is. Especially with no windshield.

Been there, done that.

 

[Aaronphoto70]

I'm definitely thinking it won't hold my weight without a deck. I'm thinking a small lightwieght deck that I can temporarily fasten to the top with a carpeted bottom so it doesnt scratch the boat. Mostly just to put ice chest and gear when we're sleeping..

We spend 18-24 hrs at a time on the water when we take the boat out

Having no windshield does help. I'm gonna take everyone's advice. Cancelled project for now. Gonna build small removable deck. Finish cleaning up cracks and holes and put the boat up for sale immediately after. Meanwhile I'll enjoy the new steering and cleaned up boat until it sells

 

[jbcurt00]

Floor/deck work usually requires stringer, flotation foam and transom work.

likely more work ahead then you expect

 

[Scott Danforth]

Any recommendations on how to get the most out of this situation?

dont buy old fiberglass boats unless you like doing fiberglass work

any fiberglass boat below $5k should be considered a project boat

as stated above by JB. if the floor is gone, your transom and stringers are long gone.

any boat conversion will always cost 5-10x what you think. and trying to convert a small closed bow runabout to a open bow fishing boat and do a transom/stringer/deck restoration will set you back $3-4k and take a better part of 6 months if you work every weekend from Friday afternoon thru Sunday night

 

[matt167]

I have a Holiday 14 which is the tin version. I've thought about turning it into a bow rider but the space in front of the window is pointless

 

[Aaronphoto70]

Okay...so I looked more closely to the cracked floor. It's a new crack from my last season and not any water damage underneath that I can see. It's pretty dry since the bow covers it and it would only have been snow and rain water that could have gotten in there anyway. Pretty straightforward repair.

As far as my brainstorming about a deck went...

I'm going to install a nice deck mounted on top of the bow using aluminum 1.5 square stock instead. Here is my preliminary drawing...

Going to use threaded inserts to mount it. The height of the bottom of the frame is just above the curvature of the bow and I can use rubber spacers to adjust.

25' 1.5" square aluminum, 24" aluminum angle stock to cut up as fasteners, EZ-LOK Fasteners, about 60 rivets, and 1 sheet of plywood. All together it should weigh around 50lbs and be way way cheaper.

I think this plan has a lot more going for it.

Thoughts?

 

[Scott Danforth]

so you are ignoring the fact the floor is rotten, meaning the transom and stringers are rotten?

 

[Aaronphoto70]

I never said the floor was rotten, its cracked. I cut out a square of the floor and it's dry under there. So yes....or no, I won't be addressing anything under the floor. Just going to repair the cutout I made.

I can't see evidence of any rot and there really isn't anything I can do about it since it's all dry and hidden under the floor.

My focus is going to be the deck and how best to mount it and installing the new steering in the next 3 weeks so we can get out on the water.

 

[briangcc]

What Scott's alluding to is that boats rot in the following manner....

Stringers & Transom....then floor. So the floor is the last thing to go, not the first.

Best bet is to drill some test holes in the lowest part of the transom from the inside of the boat. Unless someone was there before you, chances are pretty good that you're going to find that you have more of a project than you think.

Depending on the amount of rot found, **your stringers should be sampled too**, you may be in for a very large project. Again, depending on what you find, it *may* be unsafe to use as it presently sits.

Further investigation is advised.

 

[Aaronphoto70]

I appreciate the concern for the boat. I was already convinced by earlier responses not to go through with any major project with this boat.

I paid $400 for the boat. It floats and inside stays dry while on the water all weekend. I can fish gonna keep it up for sale until it goes.

Just interested in fixing it up cosmetically and converting the bow into a storage deck. A local boat body shop was nice enough to talk with me for a bit even though they're swamped and he gave me a rough idea of how to put a lightweight deck on the bow. I'll have the materials this Saturday or next Wednesday, depending on my time.

I've never used threaded inserts before so that's where I'm not sure about their placement. It's going to have to be in the right spots, like where the cleats go. I marked them in my drawing based on what the boat guy said but I'll know more once I get this aluminum frame fabricated and lay it on the boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

remember, where the cleats were from the factory, there is usually additional coring or an aluminum backer plate to spread out the load

 

[mickyryan]

if where you taped is where you are cutting you are in serious trouble my friend if you look at bowrider construction the front if built like a tub once you cut this flimsy runabouts roof off and the dash it will fold out and nothing will look the same again i have done this cut before but it was going to dump as soon as i cut dash the sides popped out on it and dash was crooked that cap was made to hold the sides together because there arent ribs in a glass boat the stringers hold floor up and strengthen the hull