How should I set up the aft?

[plagueonthewater]

I have recently purchased a 1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3 omc i/o. The deck is completely rotted throughout. I plan on restoring everything down to the stringers. But I cannot make up my mind on the way I should set up the aft. Right now the boat has a dog house engine cover and a seat on both sides of it. I was thinking about building a different cover that would allow for a sundeck above the engine and a bench in front of it that runs the width of the hull. I would use captain?s chairs instead of the lounge chairs if I did the bench because there would be less deck space. I plan on making this boat as useful as possible for skiing mostly, but diving and fishing too. What are the pros and cons of the two choices? I do want the boat to look good, but I am more concerned with function. Which setup would best suit my purposes?

 

[oops!]

Re: How should I set up the aft?

hi.....welcome to i boats......

i think youll find what you need here....

as far as your question.....you are the only one that can decide on what kind of comfigureation YOU want for YOUR boat.

the sunpad is really easy to do....but you loose the jumpers......if you also bench the sides....you will only have a few feet to walk down.....making a 12 foot alum more room than what you will have.

you could just bench one side and use the other for stowage....as long as the weight is distrrubeted correctly when the passengers are in the boat.


i had the same delema.....so i extended my hull so i could go sunpad with a bench in front of it and benches down both sides....ill still have to go with captains chairs.

im not a diver....but the area under the sunpad (eash side of the motor) would be good for gear..

it is also my experiance that when you dig into a project like what your going to do.....the problems just seem to become self evident solutions!

cheers
oops

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How should I set up the aft?

deck space is precious. if you are going to have scuba tanks on board, the need to be secured. i would do the dog house, install drop down seat on each side. then you can drop the seats, and have a perfect place for the tanks. if you want a sun deck, you can always use an insert between the dog house, and gunnels. then you have the best of both worlds.