Wahoo 160 LTS "SPLASHED"

[BassMunn]

Wow long time since I've been on here!

For the older members, nice to see so many of you still on this forum. it's either a really cool place to hang out or you are all really slow at boat building Don't worry I fall into that category too

For the newer members I have one previous bateau boat under my belt.
This PH16 modified for bass fishing:


So the story goes that after spending 3 1/2 years building that boat, I never lost my love for fishing and especially boating but I got bored of bass fishing because I had done it for so long. I used to get sea sick but after spending so much time on boats I found that I no longer got seasick and so the pursuit for the perfect rig started again.

I sold my Phantom about 2 years ago and when my brother bought an old boat to get the motors off it he saw a boat building twinkle in my eye and kindly donated it to me, knowing that it's days weren't done just yet.

To give a bit of background, I live in Durban, South Africa, we only have one very large harbour that does not allow small boats to launch from so we are required to beach/surf launch our boats. This creates a few tricky considerations, we can't reverse trailers into the water as they sink into the sand along with the tow vehicle, so they basically have to be thrown off the trailer into very shallow water before the next wave comes in. When beaching we have to hit the beach while on plane causing the boat and outboard to be subjected to extreme forces.
Surf launching also requires a self draining deck as well as low gunwales at the back of the boat, sometimes if you get your timing wrong you have to punch through a curling wave, this dumps an incredible amount of water in the boat and it has to get out as quickly as possible or you're going for a swim.
So a smaller lighter boat makes launching that much easier.

So I introduce you to my current project an old 15'6" Wahoo hull forward console (It's a South African boat, not to be confused with anything from anywhere else in the world, good or bad)
Soon to be renamed and (designed) to a Wahoo 160 LTS Centre console

[BassMunn]

Let the gutting begin








Nasty

[BassMunn]

Some rather dodgy looking floatation.
Notice that it only has short stringers and the decks are suspended by the steel grid system, the decks were screwed onto these straps and every single screw bar one had pulled through the deck and created a spot for the water to start doing it's work with the plywood.


Not fun removing floatation foam so I employed some child labour


Time to give this girl some rigidity


Child labour and the Project manager

[Jeff]

BassMunn, welcome back to the Forum!! Jeff

[BassMunn]

Rough mock-ups


PR Officer and the Project Manager scrutinising the progress


Supports for a nice long fish box (We get big King Mackeral here,Kingfish as you call them)


Trial fitting the deck straps


Fish box flowcoated and deck supports glued in.

[BassMunn]

BassMunn, welcome back to the Forum!! Jeff

Thanks Jeff!

[BassMunn]

Fibreglassing the new transom, old one was like wet toilet paper


2" thick solid transom top to bottom.


Trial fitting deck plates


Closed cell polyurethane foam for floatation, I got it cheaper than the pour foam and it allowed me to keep limber holes open easier


Floatation at 78% of sea going weight including occupants.
Chase tubes all fitted as well

[BassMunn]

First deck plate glued down.
All deck plates glassed underneath first with 410gsm Biax and glued down wet on wet.


Deck plates down and all filleted and tabbed.


Now completely glassed, decks are 9mm marine ply


Starting with the raised casting deck

[BassMunn]

Starting the back hatches




Getting a feel for the layout


I kinda forgot to take pictures for a while, but here my gunwales have been done and the back hatches completed.

[Fuzz]

Great looking rebuild I enjoyed the pictures.
Sounds like launching and retrieving a boat is a real challenge for you. When you are doing it pictures would be nice