Boat Builder Central

Hi Rob, good choice on the design! I finished a C17 last year, here's my experience with the boat so far: I have scuppers through the transom on my boat, sole is as designed. With a heavy load, when reversing I do get a little water in the cockpit, otherwise it stays dry. Plugs for the scuppers woul...

Here's a link to a video showing a helicopter rescue yesterday in Finland: http://www.iltalehti.fi/nettitv/?24474329 Apparently they got some green water in the forward cockpit. Pretty unbeliavable that you could sink a boat just like that. Case in point for added buoyancy! Don't recognize the make ...

Thanks for the comments everyone! Joe, materials for the canvas top were about 200 eur. I think to have it made would be around 350-450 here. The canvas cloth was pretty expensive from a boat supply shop. They had similar cheaper canvas at a textile shop, but not the colour I wanted. The cushions co...

here goes... Canvas stiched up (biggest job of the project, done by my wife): http://gallery.bateau2.com/albums/userpics/16727/normal_seams.JPG Hinged aluminum frame, screwed on deck. The aluminum pipe was filled with sand, then bent around a car tire: http://gallery.bateau2.com/albums/userpics/1672...

The canvas top is 90% finished now; aluminum frame on hinges. Still need to fix the buttons on the canvas and boat to keep it in place. I'll post pictures when it's all done.

I chickened out on the glassfiber arch, it was just getting in the way, nevermind how I was trying to put it on the OC17. Bought the materials for a collapsable aluminum canvas frame instead. Will post some pics when that one is done and installed on the boat.

Hi Joe,

nice build and very cool color. Here in Finland you never, ever see boats that are not either white or blue (ok, wooden boats are with a clear coat)... very boring.

markus

Thanks for chiming in Jacques! Went to buy a sheet of 6mm and some 1x1" rod today (they were out, so new try in different shop tomorrow). I still need to make proper hatches for the motorwell side lockers and will use the rest to try out the arch. Below are 2 modified OC17 pics, about what I wa...

Thanks for the replies and ideas everyone, ks8; I now see that the box structure is a must. A two dimensional arch would just be too flimsy. Evan; My thought was that the arch at least should be higher than my standing height, otherwise it would to get in the way while moving in the boat (read: hurt...

Hi, has anyone made an arch from plywood/glassfiber for a canvas top & hardware? I love my OC17, but in Finland a canvas "sprayhood" would be great when the weather unexpectedly gets wet. It would be no problem to have the canvas top + an aluminum rig custom made, but I was thinking is...