Hull extension

Dan,
I hadn't heard about the trapped sand on bunks. Good to know but wouldn't that also be true of carpet? Makes rollers seem like the thing to do.
Sark,
The more the merrier but the run up from Washington to Prince William Sound might be more time on your new hull than you planned. Weather doesn't look good for this weekend anyway.
Roger,
OK, time to give up the surprise. What'd you do?
Doug,
Plaschem was interested but in the end, too busy to take on any new work, I guess when you're good that's what happens.
All,
I'm going to need at least another week to get this together for sea trials and that would take flawless progress. Pesky job keeps getting in the way.
Axle addition almost done, then on to remounting engines.

Bill
 
Billy- Too funny, I was actually talking to roger since he lives in the same area. Wish I could make it up there, but yeah that wouls be a looong run. :lol:

Sark
 
Sark,
I was looking at your pics and I see that you have a bracket for the kicker. I have been considering a kicker bracket. Does yours have a brand name and if so could you post it?

Thanks,
Steve
 
A little update...
Been trying to do this between job and husbandly duties so progress has been slow, but here's the latest.
The new axle is on, fender mounts fabricated and paint drying on the fenders.
Both motors are mounted with the main now ready to go. Had to get a longer steering cable. Went to a local boat dealer and the cost of the cable I needed was $200. and a complete kit was $150. So now I've got a 19' complete system I don't need.
I am running all new fuel lines for both engines just because I didn't like where the pump bulbs were located. They'll be more conveinient now. Will be installing a new fuel tank selector switch since the original disintegrated when I removed it prior to the remodel.
New transducer installed just inboard of the Starboard trim tab, I got a new color fishfinder for Xmas. I think it will be OK there, time will tell.
Installed a drain line from the old splashwell outboard thru the hull extension. This will drain the new fishwell.
NOTE,NOTE, NOTE!!!!!! Had to raise the kicker because the distance between the steering attachment point and the new swim step (top) was not sufficient to fully tilt the kicker. I'm going to beef up the kicker attachment point to offset this problem but you folks thinking about this modification may want to allow for this.
Pretty much it for now, there are a couple more new pics but nothing too exciting.
Bill
 
I think this whole thing is pretty exciting...

Please keep us posted as you can. We all know you're busy.

(Can you imagine if you could get a video of your test run... it would probably be the most watched thing on the C-Brats to date!)

Best of luck!
 
Done enough to go out!!!! If the weather co-operates I'll be heading out the 18th and hope to catch the 10:30 tunnel but at the latest the 11:30 opening. Anyone wishing, who can get the day off is most welcome and I'd really like the company to help in the comparisons and maybe a few photos of other boats so I can evaluate the changes.
Did everything proposed in the previous post with no known problems, sea trials should bring those out. Did a temporary fix-it for the kicker mount but have a pretty good idea for the final solution.
Minor detail but may help someone out, had to extend the bilge pump hose and had to fabricate an extension for the transom saver. Neither was a big deal since I was lucky enough to have the mat'ls on hand.
Still have to fabricate the new oversized fuel tanks and a hatch cover for the new fishwell but I think that does it for this modification.
Since this modification was intended to offset the added weight of motors and fuel, I may put on a couple of 15 gallon barrels of extra fuel for simulation purposes.
 
boy, one thing if nothing else that additon sure turned out looking sharp.. I'll bet it works as well as it looks, looking forward to reading about the results
 
Billy,

Can't make it on the 18th since I will be in the garden spot of Bethel and won't be back until Friday. Let me know if you have a backup day.
 
Tom,
No idea just when I'll be able to escape again. I have to wait for my bride to drop her guard. When she's not looking, I'm otta there. Could be a tough summer for boating though because she wants me to build her a house and I don't think I can get out of it. I'll let you know.

Billy
 
I'm back from 200 miles of sea trials and I'm totally sold on this extension. My original reasons for doing this extension was because I kept adding more weight, and intended to add more. The Beer:Thirty began to feel like it was squatting at the stern and when pulling pots in heavier seas, I got a little splashing happening over the splashwell. Not anymore.
I loaded up the boat so that I could tell if this would really be what I wanted it to be. I had two guys and all of their food and gear for 4 days, 75 gallons of fuel, 5 gallons of water, shrimp pots, line, weights and buoys, and about 6 gallons of beer. No record, but a good average.
The extension felt like it restored the resting attitude of the original, lighter boat. It popped up on step at 11 to 13 MPH and cruised all day long at 21 MPH and 4 MPG. Turns felt a little more crisp and there was a lot of comfort in the enclosed splashwell. I didn't notice any adverse changes as we lost weight to consumed fuel, water and beer.
The room this modification produced is worth it all by itself. Besides providing a large work top area, I didn't need an ice chest and there was still plenty of room for fish and 4 days worth of garbage (in a trash bag of course).
I didn't get a chance to try it out in a following sea since it was so nice out there, but the feel of the boat leaves me with the feeling that it won't be a problem.
I also didn't get any running shots since we had the whole Sound to ourselves.
I think I've already posted the things I would do differently and I didn't find anything new I'd change on this trip.
I'd do it again, in a heart beat.

Billy
 
Bill - it's great that the extension was everything you had hoped for. It makes me feel better about going ahead with mine. Get some moving pictures when you can.
 
Billy,
I am glade to hear "Good Things" with the extension. I was keeping my fingers crossed. Not becuase I had any doughts but because of the work you had put into it , I wanted you to be happy with your effort.

Enjoy
 
Billy-

Glad to hear your project has worked out so well! I'm happy for you, as I know you've put an enormous amount of effort and thinking into it! Keep us posted about any further developments as you get more time in the new boat.

I'd be curious to hear you discuss about how many hours you think have gone into the design and building of the extension, and the cost as well. The success of this project will undoubtably spin off others, and those planning such projects should go forward with some very realistic expectations of what the time involvement and final cost will be.

Thanks again and congratulations!

Joe.
 
Thanks everyone! It really turned out to be what I wanted and needed. I must have been tired when I posted last because I forgot to put in the best observation I had.
There are a lot of variables but with a similar load in what I think were similar seas the Beer:Thirty liked cruising at about 18MPH. This was the balance between speed, RPMs and fuel flow. This trip with roughly the same RPMs and fuel flow, I was running 21 MPH! Quite a change if this holds. I'll get more time on and let you all know.
Dave- My extension was made of plywood and then it was glassed over. I was a little concerned that the extra weight might negate some of what I wanted to do but I think in the end it provided just the right balance. If you go with glass and foam, you may find yourself adding some weight in the aft. Im not sure of that of course, but I thought I'd toss it out there as a possibility. The swim step hatch has plenty of room for that if you need to add some.
Joe- If you crunched all of the design hours down, I probably don't have a six-pack in it, dealing with unforseen obstacles is another story however. That was mostly a matter of running to town for more bolts or screws or something. I had a guy do the modification who liked designing this as much as I, so he helped a lot. The boat was at the shop for a month and then I worked on it here at home for maybe another 40 hrs but that wouldn't count for most people because part of that was putting on another axle, replacing a window and installing a new fishfinder too. I had to do some things that didn't have anything to do with the extension, running to town etc.. Total cost of the extension, probably about $3700. which would include the splashwell conversion.
I replaced the steering which would be a must for everybody, the fuel lines (maybe everybody), the boot around the control cables where it exits the stern (my old one was torn), the fuel selector switch (mine broke on disassembly), a couple of thru-hull fittings and 3' of hose for the new fishwell drain, a hatch cover for the swim step, an extension for the transom saver, and bunches of zip ties. I think thats it and if you were to incorporate a few of those "lessons learned" from the outset, you would probably have less time than I have in it.
 
Wonderful job, Billy. Thanks for keeping all of us in the loop from beginning to end. And congratulations for the successful conclusion to all your hard work and a job well done!
 
Billy-

Thanks for the reply!

I'm glad you detailed out the time and expenses so that others can see what is involved.

You did an awsome job with the extension and the time and money were well spent.

Thanks for sharing this information with the rest of us and particularly with anyone else planning such a project!

Joe.
 
Good job!

Something all of us 4-strokers and heavy-aft boats should consider. As the designers of our pets will tell us - and have many times - our 22s were designed to handle a 70 h.p. 2-stroke and 2 18 gal. fuel tanks, and never, never trim tabs. Times have changed. Boy, have they!! My 22 Whaler Cuddy really changed it's personality for the better when they put a "Whaler Drive" hull extension on. More lift aft is need by our 22s too - huge 747-sized tabs like RF is one way - hull extension another - or for the smarter ones (Joe, you first) just stretch our 22s a couple of feet!!

Dusty
 
Congratulations! Was wondering what the new overall length might be ( I know there are many ways to measure, but what would be the "longest" your boat could be classified as from the back of the engines to the tip of the anchor). People with condos will need to know.

Also, for the C-BRATS, what should we call this?

I know the Fwd Facing seat is often called the "Barbers' Chair" for its inventor. Could this not be a "Billy Bracket" or a "Billy Beer...something" or "Beer Extension" "Green Machine" or a "Thirty Rig" ? Hull extension doesn't work for me anymore...
Anyone?

This could be a new string or even a poll question...
 
New Guy- I think "Billy Bracket" has a nice ring to it and is certainly well deserved for the first brave soul to challenge conventional wisdom (and overcome chicken hearted hesitation) and do the deed!

Dusty-I really don't need the extra two feet, but it would be really nice to get the 120 qt cooler up off the floor, which would add about 15" to the rear of the cockpit. I'm planning on making a bracket to fit it in the front of the motorwell this summer when the boat comes home from the marina after we take the pontoon boat up there for the summer.

Additionally, I keep getting the urge to go out and pick up one of those Alaskan Trader 24 mini-tugs with the gorgeous wood interiors, but can't do it without sacraficing the C-Dory, and the little tug just wouldn't be anywhere as good as a fishing boat.

Joe.
 
Billy,

Awsome job! And thanks for outlining what you had to pay to get it done. If outboards weren't so expensive I might think about a bracket for my 27'. Halieghs Comet did that on theirs and it seems to work well for them.
 
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