V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

[Skook]

I have a 1995 Alumacraft V-14, and I am considering dropping in a new plywood floor. While I am at it, I was thinking about adding a deck and pedestal seat to the front of the boat.

I haven't gotten into the details yet, but it looks like the small makeshift seat/platform at the very front of the boat is level with the first tank-style seat. Therefore, I am thinking about laying a piece of plywood across these two seats in order to create a deck.

My questions is this. Is a V-14 with a 68" beam stable enough to handle an elevated deck in front with a pedestal seat, or will it make the boat too top heavy and unstable?

All comments are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

My dad and I used to have a 14' john boat and we built a front deck but it was used to store equipment underneath and a hole cut in the top to hold the battery for the trolling motor.

It's your boat but in my honest opinion, I would say it's not really worth it in a 14' boat if you're trying to make it into a casting deck as you are already so close to the water.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

I think it depends on how sturdy the boat is and how high of a deck your planning to build. But I think you maybe okay, just keep the weight in mind. We wouldn't want to hear that you were dragged from your lake.

 

[THEMANFZ1]

Re: V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

I had a similar question before I started the rebuild on my 12 footer. You should take a look at the pics in my post especially the 6th one. That little maneuver pretty much sunk my hope of a deck and confirmed the floor build.


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=350642

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

Go float the boat and bring along a few milk cases and play with the height and balance as a test. An up front deck is going to make it tippy.... try it and see.

 

[moonfish]

Re: V-14 Stable Enough for Front Deck?

Look at the projects at tinboats. Your boat is huge compared to most of those. I think the seat actually helps you balance because it keeps you right on the middle of the boat. Without the seat, you're shifting your balance and the boat will rock a lot.

I put my battery and gas tank up front. Now I plane out easily but I wonder if having all the weight in a round bottomed part of the boat actually makes it more tippy.