Thoughts on splashwell modification

[JasonJ]

I have been looking at the splashwell on Project Skanky Beast Center Console Conversion and I was wondering something. I would like to cut and modify the splashwell to gain more interior room. The dilema is that because of where the outboard is positioned when tilted up means that the top of the splashwell would end up lower than it was if I push the edge towards the transom. I have looked at other boats that have low transoms and low or non-existant splashwells and I assume they do not have problems. What I don't want to happen is to modify the splashwell, have it end up lower, and have water come from behind, over the transom, over the newly lowered splashwell into the boat. Does this description even make sense?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

You probably get out more than I do in my boat, but I wish I could can my splash well and its not much lower than the top of the transom. All it does is take up a few cubic feet that I could put to better use. What have you got to lose if a wave breaks over the modified stern? A little water in the boat...that's where your bilge pump comes in. That's the way I look at it at any rate. Oh yeah, thanks for the dimensions on the motor stand. Got mine ready for next week when I inherit a 59 Johnson 50 hp Super Sea Horse...an old V4.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Yeah, if you look at the pic, I have a low cut to the transom, and the top of the splashwell is even with the rest of the deck near the back. I could probably modify it some, but the closer I get to the transom, the lower it gets, because the slope runs with the outboard. <br /><br />

 

[Bondo]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

What you Could do is,<br />Close off the transom altogether, then mount the motor on a "stand-off Bracket".... that'll put the motor a foot or two behind the boat, for better leverage.... And you'll be able to use ALL of your boat....<br />I built one out of alu. to convert a ChrisCraft I/O to an outboard.... 2' set-back.....<br />A bud built one out of wood for his boat... 2' set-back... then he added a "floor" to it,+ carries his gas tanks there...now his 17' boat looks like a 19'er,+ handles like a 21'er.....

 

[DJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Jason,<br /><br />I see your dilema. Part of the problem is that the engine is very tall.<br /><br />I cannot see how high the forward part of the splashwell is. If it is as high as the deck, it does not need to be.<br /><br />Spalshwells, unless they are deck high, will not keep all backwash out of the boat. Just a majority of it.<br /><br />It would be a great help to know how this boat sat in the water when at reat. If it sat stern high or at least stern level, lowering the height of the forward wall of the well won't be a problem.<br /><br />Another option may be to seal the floor and make the cockpit "self bailing" by adding scuppers just above the water line. As long as the cockpit floor height is above the static water line, the self bailing concept will work. That way, you can eliminate the splashwell altogether.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

djohns19, I would like to know how it sits in the water also. It had so much saturated foam, waterlogged wood, and a second 3/4 ply floor on top of that. It will sit a lot different since not only will there no longer be that weight, but there will only be the center console and seat. I have included a rough diagram of what I propose. It seems like it should be okay. I realy wish I had a better pic of the splashwell with the motor in, I wasn't thinking about this mod until just now, now that everything is torn apart. I could always do the mod, but keep the piece I cut out. If it doesn't work well, I can glass the piece back in.<br /><br />

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

I think you will be ok with what you are proposing. I think you could go even farther toward the transom and make a hinged door that you could fold down to trim the engine up.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

hawkeye1, thats as far as I need to go, as that will bring the splashwell far enough back to be even with the rest of the rear part of the deck, giving me the extra walking space I want. Non of this is necessary, but if I can get a bit more room, why not.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Hi Jason,<br />what is this boat/motor combo? low transom and<br />a short shaft merc TOP? not your usual transom<br />that's 4 sure. reminds me of my '70 merc 1150.<br />regards,<br />M.Y.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Its a normal 20 inch Merc 1250 on a 17 ft Silverline tri-hull. I think it just has a tall transom that makes the cutout seem deep. All I know is that it seems like it has more splashwell than it needs, so I think it will get altered at least a little. Its possible that since it was made in Minnesota, they may have thought it would be up against bigger water than what I will use it for.

 

[Franki]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

I have the same problem on my boat.. (17 foot half cabin)<br /><br />My splashwell is massive.. full width of the boat.. and it takes about 2.5 feet out of the boats lenght (alot when its only a 17footer)<br /><br />Also in my case, it appears to have been made as a structural support member for the transom itself.. its VERY thick fg and is braced all over the place..<br /><br />Since my transom is so strong at present, I don't want to mess with the structural design of this, so I went another way.. <br /><br />I made two flip down fishing seats that, when folded up, they sit over the splashwell, making use of otherwise useless space..<br /><br />when they are folded down, they make seats in the main deck area.. (the back of the seat is as padded as the front.<br />looks kinda like this. (side view of boat rear.)<br />Seat up:<br /><br />__/<br />----|<br />____|<br /> <br />Seat down:<br /><br /> __<br /> | ----|<br /> _____|<br /><br />ASCI art like this does not do them justice, but you get the idea... <br /><br />I wish I had an external OB pod.. but failing that, this at least makes it useable space again.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[DJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Jason,<br /><br />I think you can go even shorter than that.

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Get a v-4 Evinrude......Much shorter

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

no... keep the merc IMHO! LOL ( I'm partial)<br />are there 2 seats facing forward on each side<br />of splashwell?

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Mellowyellow, Those spaces are only 13 inches wide on either side of splashwell. In my mind, its just dead space, but if I crop that splashwell back even with the rest of deck, it frees up a good five square feet of usable walking space back there. I drove two hours to a boat restoraton place and bought all my fiberglass supplies (resin, catalyst, and mat) for about $380. It a bunch of cash, but hey, if you wanna play, you gotta pay. Anyway, I took my laptop with me and showed him my master plan and pics, and he says it all good.<br /><br />b.gagnon, I gotta have a Merc, they are just my favorite. Nothing like an evil black inline six screaming in all its inefficient smoky loud 2 stroke glory to make the heart pump. The new 250 horse inline six 4 stroke sounds very tasty. Non of that sissy compact V-6 bunk, just a big nasty tall inline six, just the way God intended it.

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Just for the heck of it, how much resin and mat did you get for 380$

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

8 gallons of resin w/ catalyst and 30 square yards of mat. I had checked prices everywhere, this was as low as I could go, and was comparable to what I found on the net, except shipping and haz-mat fees would add another $100. 30 square yards seems like a lot, but I have six stringers, two of which are 11 inches by twelve feet, the transom which will be two layers of ply with glass in between, the floor, and some other incidentals. I figured everything, then increased the amounts by a third. It takes too long to drive to get more, I would rather have extra than run out. Still cheaper than a new boat..........

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

my 16' '72 seasprite is very similar, EXCEPT..<br />my splashwell isn't nearly that big, and I have 2<br />forward facing seats on each side of it. splashwell<br />is about 18" deep, batteries on one side and an<br />onboard 12 gal. tank on the other. I understand<br />your dilemma, that's a lotta space! good luck and<br />post picks if you can.<br />M.Y.

 

[Hawkeye1]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

I have never been charged a haz mat fee on any of the 8 or 10 orders of epoxy from 2 different places. Must be something with the poly resin w/ catalyst. ? why arent you useing epoxy? Once you used it you wont go back to regular FG resin. I have been ordering it from <br /><br /> http://www.raka.com/ <br /> http://www.uscomposites.com/ <br /> <br />Both have fast and resonable shipping. I guess I have gone thru 40 gals or so in the last 3 years on 2 different project boats. Us composites has the best price on the 2 part closed cell foam that I have found anywhere. No hazmat fee with that either. Just tring to save you time and money with your project.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Thoughts on splashwell modification

Hawkeye1, Why am I not using epoxy? Well, as much as I would like to have used it, it all boils down to cost vs end result vs how I will care for the boat. I have a 33 year old boat. It lasted 33 years, on polyester resin. It wasn't even glassed as well as I plan on glassing it, and it lasted 33 years. It was left outdoors, all the time apparently, and it lasted 33 years. For as long as I will own it, it will always be under well ventilated cover, and only sees water when I use it. It will never sit at a dock in a marina, or be left abusively in the rain or snow. THAT is what kills a boat, not whether it was assembled using polyester resin. I do not earn enough money to pour an outrageous amount of money into something I can only use six months out of the year. I know that after I am done with this project, it will last at LEAST 33 years. What are the odds that I will still have this boat in 33 years? I agree that epoxy is the way to go if the budget is more flexible, but I know for a fact that the polyester will work fine for what I am doing. I do appreciate the input though, the US Composites prices for foam is just rockin'. I may have to use them for that. They do charge a hazmat fee for polyester resin, but not for epoxy. After doing the math, I am ahead by buying the resin the way I did. The epoxy was way too expensive, I still stand with my opinion on that. Epoxy is like new 4 strokes-its nice, but not necessary....