Adding front deck

[FSUDTD]

How bout it guys,<br /><br />I have a '88 15' Sailfish center console; it has a front casting deck naturally, but I am interested in covering over it and making a new deck on top of it. Im doing this for many reasons, the first of which is just to get higher off the water; it would put me up another half foot or so. The second reason is simply to add storage to a boat that did not come equipped with a whole lot origanally. I also will be able to mount my trolling motor easier and have easier access to wiring it and storing the battery. My question is what is a sufficient way to secure the added deck to the existing hull; ideally, i intend to cover the whole thing with a sheet of carpeted plywood. Would screws along the edges going into the fiberglass secure it enough, or would I have to find a way to make a nut/bolt combo work? The latter would mean that i would have to gain access to the underside of the fiberglass which might prove difficult. Any and all suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated!!<br /><br />brandon

 

[navigator336]

Re: Adding front deck

There's a lot of ways to do it, but you might consider avoiding all the holes in the fiberglass. Just a thought would be to determine the vertical angle of the rails at several points around the bow. Then make blocks to match these angles. Attach the blocks to the under side of the new deck at the appropriate positions. Then line the underside edge of the new deck and the vertical faces of the locating blocks with a low durometer rubber material such as neoprene or urethane. Now the deck will be captured in the bow area. To lock it in place, you could take 5 or 6 7" bolts and stick them through plates that you screw to the old deck in several areas close to the rails. Then drill oversize holes in the new deck that align with the 7" bolts sticking straight up. Drop the new deck over these bolts and use washers and nylok nuts to secure it. If the 7" bolts are too long, cut them off. Now if you or the next owner decides to remove the upper deck, the glass will be intact below it.